A section of evangelicals across the country have convened for a thanksgiving service at State House, Nairobi.
The service held two weeks after William Ruto was sworn in as the 5th president is expected to be graced by his wife Rachel, DP Rigathi Gachagua, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and a host of other Kenya Kwanza Alliance leaders.
Ruto, Kenya's first evangelical-leaning president, who during his campaign supported churches through various fundraisers, jetted back into the country Sunday from New York, US, where he addressed the 77th United Nations General Assembly and met President Joe Biden at the sidelines.
Ruto had earlier joined world leaders and royals for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey. Queen Elizabeth II, Britain's longest reigning monarch, died at her Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles.
During his campaigns and tenure as deputy president, Ruto sought to besiege the church to take a greater interest in the country's leadership and campaigned vigorously for the church's vote.
"The church, again, must step forward and have a conversation with the government," said Ruto at a town hall meeting organised by the Evangelical Association of Kenya in May 2022.
On September 5 after the Supreme Court upheld Ruto's win, his father-in-law Samuel Kimetto said he was ready to lead elders in praying for the president at State House.
"It has been a long journey for my son-in-law, and the best thing I can do for him is to lead elders in blessing him at the State House. I have been confident that he won the elections fairly," Kimetto told The Standard at his Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu County.
Rachel, a staunch Christian, same as Dorcas - DP Gachagua's wife, a retired banker and pastor - has notably already hosted pastors and bishops as well as gospel singers at the House on the Hill.
