On behalf of the people of Kenya and on my own behalf, I congratulate our Muslim brothers and sisters in Kenya and around the world as they end the month of Ramadhan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.
I congratulate all those who have gone through the 30 days and nights of devotion to the Creator.
The month of Ramadhan found our country in the middle of a devastating drought and food shortage. All the same, our Muslim faithful, undeterred by the unfortunate events, went on to carry out their obligations to the poor and the less fortunate and shared the little food they had as demanded by their faith.
I note that even in the middle of biting scarcity, our Muslim brothers and sisters and Islamic organizations went out of their way and donated food and other essentials to fellow Kenyans, including those who do not share the Islamic faith.
I congratulate you most sincerely on this gesture. It is my hope and my prayer that this spirit of caring and generosity be a permanent one among our people, regardless of race, tribe or faith.
The end of Ramadhan has come with some blessings, even though it began with dark clouds of hunger and drought. It comes as the country celebrates one year of the coming of the new constitution, which Muslims voted for overwhelmingly last year.
The people of Kenya and I join you in celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr. We also join you in celebrating the one year of the new constitution.
As you celebrate, I urge you to join other Kenyans, in committing to safeguard the gains that we have attained in the new constitution and keep watch over the document to ensure its faithful implementation in word, spirit and letter. Let us remember this is one of the greatest gains the country has made since independence. We must join hands in guarding it.
I wish our Muslim brothers and sisters, and people of goodwill the Blessings of Allah. Idd Ul Hajj.
RAILA A. ODINGA
AUGUST 30, 2011.
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