President William Ruto with members of the Friends (Quakers) Church at State House, Nairobi /PCSPresident William Ruto left thousands of faithful in awe on Monday after he led members of the Friends (Quakers) Church in singing the popular Swahili hymn "Ee Bwana Unipandishe" during a meeting at State House, Nairobi.
The President confidently led the congregation in the well-known worship song as the gathering enthusiastically joined in, creating a lively atmosphere of praise.
The hymn, commonly known as "Mbele Ninaendelea" or "Ee Bwana Uniinue," is the Swahili version of the famous Christian hymn Higher Ground and is widely sung in churches across Kenya.
The moment quickly attracted attention on social media, where videos of the President leading the hymn were widely shared.
Many Kenyans praised Ruto's familiarity with the song, while others jokingly remarked that even renowned American gospel musician Don Moen would have been impressed by the performance.
Moen is globally recognised as a singer, songwriter, pastor and producer who helped popularise contemporary Christian praise and worship music.
The hymn was sung during a State House meeting attended by about 5,000 members of the Friends (Quakers) Church from across the country.
The event celebrated the church's longstanding contribution to Kenya's education, healthcare, social welfare and national development.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, a lifelong member of the Friends Church, played a key role in organising the engagement.
Mudavadi has been credited with promoting unity among the church's various yearly meetings and encouraging dialogue within one of Kenya's largest Protestant denominations.
The Friends Church traces its roots in Kenya to 1902 when missionaries established the first Quaker mission at Kaimosi in present-day Vihiga county.
The mission laid the foundation for the church's extensive involvement in education, healthcare and community development, sectors in which it continues to play a significant role more than a century later.
The Quaker tradition has produced prominent Kenyan leaders, including Prof Miriam Were, Higher Education Principal Secretary Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, former UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi, the late Prof. Norah Olembo, the late Dr Benaya Majisu, former Cabinet ministers Elijah Mwangale, Joshua Angatia and Moses Mudavadi, as well as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Monday's State House meeting is expected to highlight the Friends Church's contribution to nation-building, education, peace and social justice while reaffirming the partnership between faith-based organisations and the government in advancing Kenya's development agenda.
