President William Ruto used this year’s National Prayer Breakfast to extend an olive branch to Kenya’s Gen Z, signalling a shift toward reconciliation ahead of the 2027 general election.
With youth expected to make up more than half of the 2027 electorate, political camps have already begun jostling for their attention.
Speaking at the Safari Park Hotel, Ruto stressed the importance of national unity, stating, “Where there is unity, God commands a blessing.”
“To our children, if there has been any misstep, we apologise,” he said, addressing the country’s youthespecially Gen Z who have posed a growing challenge to his administration.
This marked Ruto’s first public apology to young Kenyans following months of tension between his government and the youth, particularly Gen Z and Millennials.
In 2024, young people led a wave of protests that culminated in the storming of Parliament. They demanded sweeping reforms in the Kenya Kwanza administration and rejected the Finance Bill, 2024, which introduced controversial new taxes they described as punitive.
In response, Ruto dissolved his Cabinet and restructured the government to include opposition leaders a move aimed at calming unrest and restoring stability.
Since then, his administration has faced growing pressure to give youth a real seat at the decision-making table.
At the prayer breakfast, the President urged Kenyans to rise above political and social divisions, calling on citizens to build a more united and peaceful nation.
Quoting Psalm 133, he said: “The Word of God tells us how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to live together in unity.”
“It is God’s will for us to live together in unity across political lines, communities, and faiths,” he added. “Let us choose peace.”
