Prayers held for Uhuru, Ruto ahead of The Hague date

Written By:KBC Reporters,    Posted: Sun, Apr 03, 2011

prayers were held for the two ahead of The Hague date

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North member William Ruto on Sunday gave the strongest hint yet of unveiling a new political alliance upon their return home from the The Hague.

Speaking at Nakuru's Afraha stadium in a penultimate prayer cum political rally ahead of their departure to honour the ICC summons, Uhuru and Ruto were both optimistic of going to The Hague and coming back as a more formidable political force.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka also attended the rally and offered the government's support for the Ocampo six suspects.

The six suspects suspected of bearing the greatest responsibility in the 2008 post election violence are scheduled to appear at the International Criminal Court later this week at The Hague.

The six are Kenyata, Ruto, former cabinet minister Henry Kosgey, former police commissioner Major General Hussein Ali, head of public service Francis Muthaura and journalist Joshua Arap Sang.

Meanwhile Kikuyu Council of Elders in collaboration with the Music Reforms Association also held special prayers for Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of the Hague hearing.

Unlike similar prayers held before, this was a purely traditional one with participants removing their shoes and facing Mount Kenya at the Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga shrine which is regarded by the Gikuyu community as sacred. 

Council chairman Wachira Kaigwa said the ceremony was organized to pray for peace in the country after the Ocampo 6 leave for The Hague.

The Archbishop of the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa John Mugacha said the suspects should be tried here in Kenya as Kenyans were competent enough to deal with wrong doers.

Music Reforms Association Chairman Albert Gacheru Wamaitu however was of the opinion that the suspects should be tried as per the customs of their ethnic communities urging all Kenyans to unite in an effort to revive the old traditions upheld by the ancestors.

The ceremony was carried out in the Gikuyu traditions by the elders led by Father Joachim Gitonga where they remove their shoes, raise their hands up to the heavens and face Mount Kenya.

The Agikuyu believe that by doing so, victory or failure will be in God's hands, hence anticipating victory for Uhuru at the Hague.