President William Ruto paused his speech for three minutes during the groundbreaking Ceremony for 6,704 affordable housing units he was launching in Starehe Constituency, Nairobi County.
The President observed silence during the event on Monday, March 6, as a sign of respect after a nearby mosque began a call for Islamic prayers.
The president's abrupt silence was momentarily followed by a cheer from the crowd which was quickly alerted of the prayers and joined in the silence.
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The audience joined in the silence which lasted three minutes until the Muslim prayers ended.
Moreover, the president resumed his speech after the prayers receiving cheers from the audience for his respectful gesture.
While reiterating the different locations where the affordable housing projects would be launched, Ruto, in his speech, called on investors to fund the projects noting that it would further create job opportunities for Kenyans.
“We will be launching the construction of these local and affordable housing units in the next 90 days in Garissa, Marsabit, Uasin Gishu, Narok, Kisumu, Machakos, Kiambu, Mombasa, and in Kajiado counties.
“I am encouraging investors to step forward because we have additional opportunities in the country in the construction of these houses, ” Ruto stated.
In a separate event in March 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta also stopped his speech during the memorial service of the late President John Pombe Magfuli in Tanzania.
Uhuru’s gesture was applauded by members of the Muslim community who stated that the former President respected different cultures in the East African Community.
"Much respect for our President Uhuru Kenyatta who has kept silent as the adhan goes off during the live transmission of the farewell ceremony for the late President John Magufuli in Dodoma.
“That showed high regard and understanding of culture," former PS Fatuma Hirsi stated.
