President Ruto among leaders attending National Prayer Breakfast

President William Ruto is Wednesday expected to lead the country in a National prayer breakfast in Nairobi.

The ceremony brings together leaders from across the political sphere, although opposition leaders from the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition have said they will not attend.

Through a statement on Tuesday, Azimio dismissed the event offers as a “dishonour” to God.

“If past events where we have shared platforms with Kenya Kwanza are to serve as a guide, Azimio is convinced that the National Prayer Breakfast does not offer the environment the country needs,” the coalition said.

“Instead, the event will dishonour God and country with a display of arrogance, superiority battles, false hopes to citizens and vitriolic post-event mischaracterization and misinterpretation of intentions by well-known Kenya Kwanza leaders. We have therefore declined the invitation to the breakfast.”

Azimio however gave members of parliament the liberty to choose whether or not to attend the prayers.

The ceremony also comes at a time Kenyans are grappling with a high cost of living and debate on taxation in the wake of the Finance Bill, 2023 through which President Ruto’s government seeks to raise more revenue by increasing taxation.

The bill proposes a 16 per cent Value Added Tax on fuel and a housing fund, among other levies, as the Kenya Kwanza government seeks to raise more money from Kenyans.

But while the Azimio coalition has signalled to resume anti-government protests if the controversial bill is not reviewed, the government remains bullish, with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asserting that the bill will pass in parliament as it is.

President Ruto himself is on record saying, “We need to pass this bill so Kenya can develop. There are some suggestions that MPs should disclose how they voted when the bill is tabled in parliament, but personally, I am waiting to see any MP who will shut down that bill.”

The 2023/2024 budget is set to be tabled before Parliament on June 15.