Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during President William Ruto's meeting with Friends (Quakers) Church at State House, Nairobi on August 3 / HANDOUTPrime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has cautioned Kenyans against entrusting leadership to individuals driven by vengeance, bitterness and vindictiveness, saying the country's leadership should never be reduced to an ethnic contest.
Speaking on Monday during a meeting between President William Ruto and about 5,000 members of the Friends (Quakers) Church at State House, Nairobi, Mudavadi said national leadership demands patience, humility and a commitment to serving all Kenyans.
"It is dangerous to give leadership and responsibility to an individual, be it a man or a woman, who is driven by vengefulness, vindictiveness and bitterness. Do not give leadership to such kind of a person," he said.
Mudavadi urged Kenyans to safeguard the country's sovereignty by rejecting ethnic politics.
"We must stand firm as a nation and know that leading a nation is bigger and more complex. It requires patience and humility. We must not change or give our sovereignty, responsibility and right and then reduce it to an ethnic poll. We cannot convert the leadership of this country to an ethnic poll. It cannot be," he said.
"The leadership of this nation is not about ethnic polling or tribalism. It is about safeguarding the lives of all the 55 to 56 million Kenyans."
The meeting celebrated the Friends Church's contribution to Kenya's social, educational and national development.
Mudavadi, a lifelong member of the Friends Church, has played a role in promoting unity within the Quaker community and strengthening collaboration among its various yearly meetings. His efforts have been credited with encouraging dialogue and cohesion within one of Kenya's largest Protestant denominations.
Kenya has the world's largest Quaker population, with an estimated 150,000 faithful, most of whom live in Western Kenya.
Mudavadi assured Kenyans that the 2027 general election will be peaceful, urging the public to dismiss claims by some political leaders that the country could be headed for a chaotic electoral period.
He said Kenya has built strong democratic institutions over the years and expressed confidence that the next election will be conducted in a peaceful environment.
The Prime CS also described Ruto as a close friend of the Friends Church, commonly known as the Quakers, saying the President has maintained a longstanding relationship with the denomination.
"Even when he took over leadership, the first church here in Nairobi where he went for prayers was Donholm Friends. He went to the church of Friends, so he's a friend of Friends," he said.
Mudavadi, who is himself a member of the Friends Church, appealed to fellow congregants to back Ruto's bid for a second term, saying they should judge the President based on his record in office.
