By Arnold Neliba
NAIROBI, OCTOBER 13, 2020 (CISA)-“For a moment please write down in your heart what you want to do. Who is it that is committing this crimes? Is it you and I who are coming here to pray? Who is practicing tribalism is it you and I?” Rt. Rev. Alfred Rotich bishop of the Catholic diocese of Kericho posed during the second Interfaith National Prayer Day held on Saturday, October 10 at Statehouse Nairobi.
“This morning our country is elevating our hearts and wants to speak to God. We know and we believe and we believe that we are fighting corruption, we are fighting tribalism and those are the blocks of our prayers,” the bishop said in a preamble address before the prayers.
“If it is true that we are coming here to pray that these enemies be ridden off in our country, then God will hear our prayers,” he said.
In his sermon Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit urged Kenyans to seek God’s direction and favor as the nation fights Covid-19 pandemic which has impacted greatly on the country crumbling the economy since March.
“As we gather today some are asking what we are thanking God for and we can say yes Lord we are in this situation, but we are grateful that it will not remain like this,” Sapit said.
“Our country needs conversion for many reasons for which we have prayed but above all we all still need to take seriously this battle against covid-19. We have won a first stage of battle war on us we were to lose a second one,” Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri and Chairperson of the Inter-Faith Council said in his address.
“We cannot pray for God’s blessings and still present dangers to my sister and my brother and my father and my mother and my grandfather and my grandmother,” her said pleading to Kenyan leaders and citizens to protect one another from coronavirus.
The prayers were led by religious leaders cut across different faith denominations in the country to pray for the nation and country’s battle with Covid-19. Calls for forgiveness, unity and prosperity dominated the national prayer weekend.
In his address, President Uhuru Kenyatta asked for forgiveness from the nation further calling on Kenyans to unite.
“We are told to thank God and ask for forgiveness then we must forgive each other too. So I beg you all, if I have done anything wrong to anyone, I beg for your forgiveness. And if any one of you has wronged me, I have forgiven him. That is the way to move forward,” he said.
The event which is part of a three-day national prayer weekend was attended by Deputy President William Ruto, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta and opposition leaders Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka among a host of other dignitaries.
