President Uhuru Kenyatta alongside his Deputy William Ruto during Sunday service at the Redeemed Gospel Church in Huruma, Nairobi, November 26, 2017. [Photo/PSCU]
President Uhuru Kenyatta attended a thanksgiving Sunday service at the Redeemed Gospel Church in Huruma with a message that the celebrations at Kasarani will not be about him and winning an election.
He said his Tuesday inauguration will be about Kenyans celebrating their diversity, peace, and unity.
He asked fellow politicians to use the country’s diversity for the national good instead of abusing it for personal gain.
He said Kenya being a democracy, it is normal to compete for political positions but the competition should not be based on ethnicity, race or tribe but ideas that will lift the lives of Kenyans.
“And like in any competition, there will be winners and losers but in terms of the election, we are all winners as Kenyans. Our responsibility after the political competition is to come together and work to build the nation,” Kenyatta said.
Accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, Uhuru said Kenyans want to live together as one people and should not be enjoined in political argument.
“Within the political world, it is normal to have political differences but that does not mean we can’t co-exist and live together in peace,” he added.
Kenyatta disclosed that his first responsibility is peace for all Kenyans. "Second is to ensure the unity of all Kenyans becomes the foundation of the development we are seeking."
Deputy President Ruto urged Kenyans to shun those preaching hate, negative ethnicity and divisive politics.
“Today, let us all resolve that we will refuse hate, resist negative ethnicity and reject divisive politics so that we can live together as one people – the people of the great nation of Kenya,” the DP said, Sunday.
He asked Kenyans to continuously build bridges of friendship and brotherhood because that is the will of God, urging religious leaders to pray for the President and his team so that they can have the wisdom to serve every Kenyan irrespective of their political affiliation.