Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah has called on leaders to respect electoral outcomes and move forward, warning against attempts to sway citizens to act in line with individual interests rather than the collective will of voters.

Speaking during a parliamentary session on Thursday, April 2, 2026, Ichung’wah maintained that the clergy holds a constitutional and moral obligation to pray for the country and its leadership, and should not be faulted for political outcomes that may not favour certain individuals.

He said prayers are answered according to God’s will and not personal desires, and said those dissatisfied with outcomes should not fault religious institutions.

“Honourable Speaker, it is important to say that the clergy and the church have a cardinal responsibility to pray, not just for leaders, but also for the country. And should prayers be answered in a way that does not please somebody? You should not blame the church. You pray to God to answer prayers according to His will,” he said.

Prayers for the nation

Ichung’wah criticised what he described as attempts by some leaders to dictate how Kenyans and the church should pray, stressing that no individual’s wishes can supersede the will of God or that of the people.

“I have seen there is somebody now who wants to superimpose their will and desires on the people of Kenya and even on God, and force the church to pray the way he wants them to pray,” he said.

He urged those unhappy with the outcome of the last General Election to accept and move forward.

“You are a human being like everybody else. Your desire, your will, is not the will of God. Therefore, accept, move on and heal. It is good for you. It is good for the country,” Ichung’wah said.

According to the lawmarker, leadership in Kenya is determined by voters, not individual preferences.

“The people elect the leaders that they want, not the leaders that you want. As a person, you may want somebody else. The people want somebody else, and you must accept them. Move on,” Ichung’wa said.

Readiness for 2027 polls

The majority leader’s remarks comes amid the ongoing voter registration by the IEBC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has set an ambitious target of growing Kenya’s voter register to 28.5 million by the 2027 General Election, following insights drawn from the 2022 Post-Election Evaluation Report, which recorded 22,120,458 registered voters.

The Commission, led by its chairperson, Erastus Ethokon, announced a nationwide rollout of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise across all county assembly wards and 57 Huduma Centres during the national launch in Kwale County on March 30, 2026. The initiative aims to register at least 2.5 million new voters.

“By launching the ECVR in Shimoni, Kwale, which is predominantly home to several minority groups, WaTswaka, WaPemba, Makonde, Washirazi, Wavumba and WaRundi, the IEBC reaffirms its commitment to inclusivity, transparency and accessibility in voter registration. Together, we can strengthen democracy and ensure that Kwale County continues to shine as a beacon of opportunity and voter participation,” Ethokon said.