President William Ruto during a meeting with sheikhs at State House, Nairobi/PCSPresident William Ruto shared a light-hearted moment with Muslim leaders at State House, Nairobi, joking about reports that some wanted to convert him from Christianity to Islam.
Speaking during a meeting with sheikhs, Ruto laughed off the suggestion, saying he had been told there were plans to "kunisalimisha", but playfully warned against the idea.
"And you know, do not try. Mimi ni mhubiri sugu sana. Msipochunga, mimi nitawahuburia nikimalizana na kazi ya urais, na pengine wengine wenu nitawapinduwa wakuwe wa Christo," he said, drawing laughter from the gathering.
The President quickly shifted to a message of unity and equality among Kenyans, saying religion and region should never divide the country.
"Hakuna tofauti ya mkiristu na muislamu, hakuna tofauti ya mtu wa North Eastern, Eldoret na mtu wa Kiambu, sote ni watu moja, tunatambulika sawasawa chini ya katiba ya Taifa letu la Kenya," he said.
Ruto said children from every part of the country, including Northern Kenya, Wajir and Lamu, would now be treated equally when applying for national identity cards.
"Sasa mtoto wa Northern Kenya, Wajir, Lamu... sehemu zote za Kenya sasa watakua sawa wakati wanatafuta vitambulisho," he said.
The President also said his administration had addressed concerns raised by Muslim leaders over challenges faced by Kenyan pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
"Jambo la pili, mlinieleza ya kwamba, wakati mnaenda katika Haji, kule Saudia, wengi wanapata matatizo kwa sababu hatukukua na consulate ambayo itaaidia waislamu," he said.
He said the government had since opened a Kenyan consulate to support pilgrims.
"Leo tumefungua consulate, tuko na consular general na vile mmesema hapa, safari ya kwenda kwa maombi, sasa inaendelea bila matatizo."
Ruto reiterated that Christians and Muslims share a common belief in God, urging Kenyans to embrace unity.
"Nyinyi ni ndugu zetu... uzuri, mimi natambua dini ya kiislamu ni kwamba mnaamini Mungu," he said.
He added: "Binadamu hawezi kua mkamilifu. Bila ya kuamini Mungu, and that is where we are all of us, and we are equal."
