Deputy President William Ruto fought back tears during a prayer meeting attended by senior members of the clergy from Nairobi County at his Karen residence on Tuesday, August 2.
The prayer meeting called by DP Ruto and his wife Mama Rachel Ruto brought together members of the clergy and senior church members to pray for the country ahead of the August 9 elections.
But after an intense prayer session and words of encouragement to Dr Ruto, the deputy resident was invited to the podium and his emotions were visible.
Speaking on the importance of peace and the challenges his campaign has had to endure, the DP was seen in the video wiping tears that were clearly overwhelming him.
His eyes were soaked as he spoke about the need to hold a peaceful election as well as thanked the clergy for their support throughout the duration of his campaign.
"Thank you for honouring our invitation so that we can have a moment of prayer together. We all know where we are as a country. We know the moments and we know the times and we know the challenges and I requested we have this moment of prayer together because of the weight of the issues that we are faced with in these last days before we go to the vote," Dr Ruto stated.
"We have many schedules but the bible reminds us to seek the kingdom of God first. Thank you for coming to pray with my team and me. I underestimated this meeting but it has turned out to be something I never imagined," he added amid a series of emotions hitting him.
DP Ruto noted that he has struggled during his journey and hinted at the fallout with his boss president Uhuru Kenyatta whom he expected would endorse him as he had promised during their camping from 2011 to 2017.
"Let me say we are truly grateful as a team because we have seen God's hand in this journey. The far that God has brought us and the many issues that we have overcome we have seen the hand of God.
"Along the journey, we have come to appreciate that men can let you down but God wouldn't. We have come to the realization of trusting God because human beings can let you down," he added.
DP Ruto called for a peaceful election and challenged the clergy to engage their flock and encourage them to shun violence as well as come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic right at the ballot.
The DP has not been shy to shed a tear or two in public and he wears his emotions on his sleeve at times. In 2015, the DP was brought to tears by 8-year-old Nina Kanana Mutheu, who recited a poem complete with a pet name for Ruto; Uncle Willy.
In March 2013 after the Jubilee alliance won the election, DP Ruto wept on a church podium at Faith Evangelical Ministry in Karen.
