Ruto, wife to lead nation in prayer on Valentine’s Day at Nyayo Stadium
President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel will on Tuesday, February 14, lead the country to a prayer service at Nyayo Stadium over drought and hunger.
In a notice to the media, the first family will lead the nation in a “National Solemn Assembly” from 8 am to 4 pm.
On Sunday, during the interdenominational service in Nakuru, Ruto said the agenda would be to pray for rain and watch over the country.
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He said that his government had “done whatever” it could to lessen the effects of hunger in some parts of the country.
He told Kenyans to pray for rain by talking about some of the things he had done in his first few days in office, like lowering the prices of seeds and fertilizer.
“I want to urge Kenyans to pray for our nation on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, for God to give us rain as we continue to fight hunger and drought. As for those who won’t make it to Nyayo National Stadium, let’s have prayer sessions wherever we will be,” said Ruto.
“For those who will not be able to make it to Nyayo Stadium, have services anywhere and pray for the country.”
President Ruto invites Kenyans to Nyayo Stadium to pray against drought on Valentine's Day pic.twitter.com/EgryWQsN7F
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 12, 2023
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He also said his government has set aside seeds and fertilisers for agriculture, but all plans cannot go well if God doesn’t provide rain.
“We need God in order to move forward,” he said.
Kenyans, on the other hand, have reacted differently to President Ruto’s call for prayers on Valentine’s Day.
Among them is Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, who took to social media and slammed the Head of State, saying that Kenyans should spend Valentine’s Day with their loved ones and strengthen family bonds.
“Dr. Ruto must know that the Bible says in James 2:17 that Faith without action is dead, He should therefore Let People make love/have hip to hip massage on Valentine’s Day and strengthen bonds with their families,” Babu wrote.
The ODM MP went on to accuse President Ruto of using prayer without caring about the plight of struggling families and communities.
“Prayer without action is meaningless. Prayer to make a show of how much you care without action is a sin. Period. How dare they use the sacred act of prayer to put on a mantle of caring when the gut-wrenching grief of families and communities continues day in and day out,” he added.
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Here is what KoT thinks of national prayer day.
So there's a national prayer day today at Nyayo stadium. Are you going? 😄
— The poet known as BlackSkillz 📺🎙📻 ✊🏿 (@DavidOyuke) February 14, 2023
Good morning Mr @WilliamsRuto, I am on my way to Nyayo stadium, I have no fare but God shall provide, lunch money too but I believe I won't die hungry or starve #TukutaneNyayo
— DON🇰🇪 (@mwamiyes) February 14, 2023
So instead of putting in long-term solutions to our food security issues, tutaombea njaa pale Nyayo Stadium kesho? Ni sawa sawa.
— 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀● (@Gr3eatness) February 13, 2023
Will the Water CS Alice Wahome and Kanini Kega attend the Rain Prayer rally at Nyayo Stadium? 😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/7cD1dOoBaV
— THE BLACK PEN ✍🏿🇿🇦 (@TheAfricanPen) February 13, 2023
There is money meant to mitigate such calamities as drought, money milked from the poor through taxes. Instead, a head of state is calling for prayers. You know where the money goes. Anyway, let us appear in Nyayo stadium and pray for rain
— Baringo Hornet🐝 (@TuitoekLaban) February 13, 2023
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