Azimio Principals to Skip Tomorrow's National Prayer Breakfast

The Azimio leadership says it will not participate in Wednesday's national prayer gathering at the Safari Park Hotel as a result of a lack of integrity from Ruto's side.

In a declaration released on Tuesday, the Opposition outfit claimed that the present conditions in the nation necessitate its citizens to approach God with humility and be honest with Kenyans on the difficulties confronting the country. They maintained that this element is absent in the Kenya Kwanza government which they accuse of not being open about the issues presently facing the nation. However, the outfit indicated that Azimio members of Parliament have the freedom to attend the prayer service.

According to the National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula, the National Prayer Breakfast was Initially planned for the 31st of May, however, due to unexpected circumstances the event had to be postponed to the 7th of June. The event is intended to bring together leaders from diverse backgrounds to pray for the nation's well-being and promote unity.

The prayer service comes at a time when the ruling government and the opposition Azimio are embroiled in a dispute concerning four unresolved issues the Odinga side claims Ruto's administration has failed to resolve. These include the reduction of the cost of living, the opening of the IEBC servers, the reconstitution of the electoral commission, and the protection of opposition parties' autonomy. Additionally, the plan of government to alter taxes with the Finance Bill 2023 has added tension to the already strained relationship between the two sides, with attempts to reach a bipartisan agreement remaining unsuccessful.

Azimio has demanded the complete withdrawal of the Bill, saying that the proposed taxes would be too much for the public to bear. The Bill is slated to be discussed in more detail at its second reading on Thursday.