President William Ruto has, according to media reports from Kenya, introduced a mandatory fasting for all State House workers. On Wednesday, March 1, social media was awash with reports that according to the new changes, the State House staff would not be provided with food or be allowed to come with food into the premises on Wednesdays. It is reported that the changes were yet to be made official, but concerns were raised about whether the prayers would be guided and if prayer points would be provided at the State House. The matter elicited debate on social media with some opining that religion ought to be a freedom of choice and not imposed. Forcing public servants to fast is an illegality. It is unconstitutional. This is not even fasting. It’s withdrawing people’s right to eat, digital communication strategist Pauline Njoroge stated. Those who have been asked to fast are not complaining while those who have not been asked are complaining on their behalf, read Kennedy Owino's post. Fasting is not necessarily Christian. Maybe it is for purposes of discipline and focus. Offices enforce several rituals like these, Arwa Erick noted. Let people pray and fast. If the president is fasting why not the employees, a user identified as Kim pointed out. The news came on the backdrop of a report from Infotrak, a Kenyan professional market and social research company, that revealed a section of Kenyans hailed President Ruto's steadfastness in religion. According to Infotrak's State of the Nation, five percent of optimistic Kenyans stated that Kenya was headed in the right direction because President Ruto is God-fearing.
