The National Assembly Majority Whip, Sylvanus Osoro, on Wednesday, June 7, led the Bunge Fellowship Choir in singing the Amazing Grace hymn at William Ruto's first National Prayer breakfast as president.
Osoro disclosed that the choir, which practices every Wednesday, was separate from the renowned Bunge Choir.
Despite playing the keyboard well, the choir conducted by Tana River senator, Danson Mungatana, sang slightly off-key, producing higher and lower variations.
“The only person we do not allow in the choir is the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah because we realised that he could keep up and follow the beats. He is gifted elsewhere,” Osoro joked as he introduced the choir.
Osoro began by leading the choir in a brief warm-up session to find the right key as the instrumentalists, including the drummer and saxophonist, joined in.
The choir then broke into a song swaying to the soft and soothing beats of the Amazing Grace hymn.
Occasionally, the majority whip intercepted to lead the choir into the next stanzas as the chorister, Mungatana, stressed the musical pulse to ensure they were on the same metrical rhythm.
With the voices raised together to form one sound, the guests, including Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi, were drawn into joining the choir, some lip-synching.
Momentarily, Osoro allowed the saxophonist to rise to the occasion, gripping the audience's attention with his conical metal tube, playing around with the about 24 openings controlled by padded keys.
He blew the air into the mouthpiece like a clarinet as the two-octave key vents allowed the instrument to overblow to a higher register at the octave.
Afterwards, Osoro and his choir invited other senators and members of parliament, including Kimani Ichung'wah, to join them in a second worship song.
A rendition of Hakuna Mungu Kama Wewe filled the air as the now bigger choir worshipped, lifting their arms and swaying to the sound of the musical instruments.
Among those in the choir was Nairobi County woman representative, Esther Passaris, who has recently warmed up to President William Ruto contrary to his Azimio La Umoja coalition party led by the opposition leader, Raila Odinga. The former Prime Minister turned down the invitation arguing that the event was insignificant in relation to the rising political temperatures.
The leaders marked the 20th National Prayer Breakfast with the theme 'Reconciliation to God and Men'.
Impressed by the Osoro-led choir, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that he would consider them for a performance during his wedding anniversary adding that he would meet them after the event for a token of appreciation.
"I will speak to my wife and see if we can have you perform at our wedding anniversary. After this event, I want to meet the choir and give you a small gift," he stated.
