Azimio’s Decision To Snub Breakfast Prayer Meeting Was Ill-advised, In Bad Faith
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga flanked by the coalition's top leadership, speaks to the media at Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi on February 16, 2023. PHOTO | COURTESY
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- We defeated him. Again, this is truth. If Raila is a true democrat, he should stick to his role as an opposition leader.
- Also, Gachagua had played an instrumental role in derailing and pouring cold water to Raila’s demonstrations.
- This Mzee has not changed. He still believes in violence, bloody confrontations and destruction of properties. His demonstrations always mainly targeted the small-scale businesses of the millions of jobless ‘hustlers’.
- Yes, the DP had a few days earlier made comments that would not go down well with Raila.
- Lately, he (Raila) was desperately looking for an opportunity to share a platform with the President for ‘photo session’.
Opposition outfit Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Party gave the 20th annual National Breakfast meeting a wide berth.
In a statement released in the eve of this event, the top leadership of Azimio explained the reasons for declining the invitation.
Yes, the theme; reconciliation with God and with man is good but we know the agenda of the top leadership of the ruling Kenya Kwanza government will be totally different.
They will take advantage of this event to continue with their arrogance, chest thumping and a show of mighty.
Here, many believed they were mainly targeting the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
This is because he has always been telling them the truth.
First, President William Ruto won the August 9, 2002 elections in a free and fair contest.
The wish of the majority of the Kenyans who voted us cannot be reversed.
Secondly, there was no room for a ‘nusu mkate’ government.
In apparent reference to ODM leader Raila Odinga, the DP had been reiterating.
This Mzee developed a bad habit of blackmailing and armtwisting the previous governments. This after he loses the elections.
He pushed President Mwai Kibaki and successor Uhuru Kenyatta until they caved in to his political machinations.
For us, we are a different breed and hence we cannot entertain his games.
We defeated him. Again, this is truth. If Raila is a true democrat, he should stick to his role as an opposition leader.
Also, Gachagua had played an instrumental role in derailing and pouring cold water to Raila’s demonstrations.
This Mzee has not changed. He still believes in violence, bloody confrontations and destruction of properties. His demonstrations always mainly targeted the small-scale businesses of the millions of jobless ‘hustlers’.
Yes, the DP had a few days earlier made comments that would not go down well with Raila.
Lately, he (Raila) was desperately looking for an opportunity to share a platform with the President for ‘photo session’.
Given his no-hold-barred attacks, many believe Azimio leaders did not want to come face to face with Gachagua.
To me, their decision to snub the prayer was ill-advised and would not augur well in the eyes of public.
Let me explain why. This was not a forum for politicians to showcase their political prowess.
This was a prayer meeting organized and presided over by the religious leaders.
So, this could have given Azimio leaders an opportunity to come to God and join others in praying for reconciliation and peace in our country.
As a born-again Christian, I want to make a reference to a Verse in the Bible that says. No human being is allowed to judge the other. This is the work of God.
So, for Azimio to allege national prayer was a waste of time and would not realize its purpose, this would cast these leaders as people who were not well conversant with Biblical teachings.
The claims would amount to usurping the power of God. This could draw the wrath of God and punish them for committing a sin of blasphemy.
President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and their spouses have been proclaiming to be Christians and strong believers in the word of God.
If you don’t agree, leave it to God.
At this juncture, allow me to say this. Raila has a history of snubbing National Breakfast Prayer meetings but one thing has remained clear. This will only happen when he was and is on a warpath with the government.
This script played out during the reigns of Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
After forcing his way into their respective government, he would became contented and start to attend the annual prayers.
When he took to the podium, he would shower the president and his deputy with accolades. He would also praise the clergy for organizing these prayers.
What does this tell you? Raila’s decision to snub this year’s national prayer was not a matter of principle. He did this because he is still holding a grudge with President Ruto. He is yet to accept that he lost the presidential election to him and move on.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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