Azimio MP Defends Decision By Opposition Leaders To Skip National Prayer Breakfast

• President William Ruto led the nation on Thursday, May 30, in the National Prayer Breakfast in Nairobi
• However, opposition MPs were not in attendance, and according to Kibra MP Peter Orero, they didn't need to attend
• He said the worry should not be on Azimio MPs missing the session but on how much the government spent and saved from the breakfast.

An Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) has defended the absence of opposition leaders during the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 30.

Speaking during an interview on Friday, May 31, Kibera MP Peter Orero said everyone is entitled to freedom of worship, and praying together with the president is not mandatory to qualify as National Prayer Day.

Why did Azimio skip National Prayer Breakfast?

"I think we all know how the country operates; we have freedom of worship and speech; you don't have to pray where the president is for it to be a national prayer day," Orero said.

According to Orero, the missing Azimio MPs during the event should not be debated; instead, the focus should be on how much the government saved after the breakfast.

"You can as well pray at home. That should not be the issue that we did not attend the National Prayer Day. From the National Prayer Day, we want to know how much we spent as a country and what we saved," he added.

Orero further said that prayers should not be tied to the president's attendance for them to be called national prayers.

"It should not be tied to a national prayer day that everyone must attend. I have never attended any prayer day and don't think I will attend one," Orero explained.

Sylvanus Osoro leads Bunge Choir

South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro lit up the National Prayer Breakfast when he led MPs in the choir during the praise session.

President William Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and other top Kenya Kwanza leaders were seen dancing to Osoro's songs.

Atheists' President Harrison Mumia expressed his excitement after receiving an invitation from Parliament to attend the National Prayers.

Mumia said the gesture showed the willingness of the government to accommodate people with different beliefs.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke