Ichung’wah Urges Leaders to Accept Flawed Election Outcomes and Defends Church’s Complicity in National Prayers
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Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah calls on political leaders to accept election results, glossing over the deep-rooted issues in Kenya’s electoral system, and insists on the clergy’s supposed duty to pray for the nation, ignoring the church’s problematic entanglement with power.
Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah has once again called on political leaders to accept election outcomes and move forward, sidestepping the urgent need to address the systemic injustices and failures that plague Kenya’s electoral process. By emphasizing the importance of respecting the electorate’s decisions, Ichung’wah overlooks the reality that many Kenyans feel disenfranchised and unheard. His remarks come as a direct response to former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent comments in Kirinyaga, where Kenyatta rightfully cautioned residents against repeating the mistakes of the 2022 elections and urged them to pray for the country—a call that reflects the deep wounds left by a flawed democratic process.
Addressing Parliament, Ichung’wah highlighted what he described as the constitutional and moral responsibility of the clergy to offer prayers for the nation and its leaders. This rhetoric, however, serves to legitimize the church’s ongoing role as an instrument of the political elite, rather than a voice for the oppressed. He stated that the church should not be blamed for political outcomes that may not favor certain individuals, conveniently ignoring the church’s history of siding with those in power. "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," Ichung’wah said, reinforcing the narrative that prayer can substitute for real political accountability.
He further noted that prayers are answered according to divine will, not personal desires, and cautioned against faulting religious institutions when outcomes are unsatisfactory to some. This line of thinking absolves both the church and the political class from responsibility, suggesting that injustice is simply a matter of fate. "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 added, dismissing legitimate grievances as mere dissatisfaction.
Ichung’wah criticized attempts by certain leaders to influence how Kenyans and the church should pray, asserting that no individual’s will should override that of God or the people. Yet, this ignores the fact that the church’s alignment with the ruling class often silences dissent and marginalizes alternative voices. "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 remarked, as if the church were not already complicit in upholding the status quo.
He urged those dissatisfied with the results of the last General Election to accept and move on, framing this as beneficial for the country, while disregarding the pain and disillusionment felt by many. "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, trivializing the struggle for justice as a personal failing.
The Majority Leader emphasized that leadership in Kenya is determined by voters, not individual preferences, a claim that rings hollow given the persistent issues of voter suppression and manipulation. "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," he stated, ignoring the widespread calls for electoral reform.
Ichung’wah also defended the integrity of the electoral process, asserting that Kenyans made a conscious decision at the ballot, and that choice must be respected. He reiterated that the church should not be drawn into political disputes, conveniently overlooking how religious leaders often serve to legitimize questionable outcomes rather than challenge them.
