First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto today joined women parliamentarians at the National Prayer Breakfast Women’s Convocation, where she called on Kenyans to embrace prayer, forgiveness and reconciliation as the foundation for national unity and healing.
The prayer gathering, held at Safari Park Hotel ahead of Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast, brought together women leaders from the Senate and the National Assembly, who committed to fostering peace, reconciliation and spiritual renewal across the country.
Addressing the congregation, the First Lady acknowledged that leadership often comes with misunderstanding and criticism, even when driven by sincere intentions, and urged leaders to guard their hearts against bitterness.
“There are moments when you give your best and still find yourself criticized, excluded, or unfairly judged. And perhaps the hardest part is not what happened around you, but what started happening within you — the questions, the disappointment, the temptation to withdraw, to become guarded, to stop trusting people, and to harden your heart just enough so that no one can hurt you again,” she said.
Mrs Ruto commended women leaders for remaining steadfast at a time when political and social divisions have become increasingly pronounced, saying women have a unique role in fostering understanding and reconciliation.
She observed that Kenya’s future would be shaped not only through legislation or policy but also through everyday acts of compassion and bridge-building.
“Women who can correct without humiliating. Women who can rise without pulling others down. Women who understand that leadership is not proven by how many people fear you, but by how many people become better because you led them,” she said.
The First Lady warned against the growing culture of polarization, quick judgment and hostility, noting that reconciliation is both a spiritual calling and a leadership responsibility.
“We are living in a time where division has become easy. People are divided politically, socially and generationally. Even within families. We have become quicker to cancel than to listen, quicker to respond than to understand, and quicker to judge than to reconcile. Yet reconciliation is not merely a spiritual principle — it is leadership, and we as women understand this deeply,” she said.
Mrs Ruto added that President William Ruto deeply values the contribution women make not only in leadership across different sectors but also in praying for the nation and promoting peace.
The intercessory prayers were led by Joyce Kikafunda alongside Women’s Convocation Co-Chairs Beatrice Elachi and Senator Veronica Maina.
Senator Veronica Maina revealed that attempts had been made to stop the National Prayer Breakfast through the courts but said the event proceeded after the courts upheld its constitutionality.
“The Lord’s prayers are unstoppable. Someone attempted to go to court, but through God’s grace the court upheld the prayers as constitutional,” she said.
Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala challenged the perception that parliamentarians lack moral values, saying many legislators remain committed to Christian principles.
“At Parliament we are born again, and we will be going to heaven. Kenya will change because we are prayerful women,” she said.
Beth Syengo called on Kenyans to pray for peace and wisdom among the country’s leaders and urged an end to hatred and division propagated through online platforms and public discourse. She also cautioned against rejecting government initiatives without objective consideration, including the forthcoming Finance Bill.
Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs Beatrice Askul urged young people, particularly Gen Z, not to allow themselves to be manipulated into violence or destruction, encouraging them instead to become ambassadors of peace and nation-building.
Delegations from Peru, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, the United States, Hungary, Indonesia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Uganda and Tanzania also participated in the prayer gathering ahead of the National Prayer Breakfast.
