Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichng'wah/FILE

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah has urged leaders to accept election outcomes and move on, saying no one should seek to influence citizens to act according to personal wishes rather than the will of the people.

His remarks follow comments by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who, while speaking in Kirinyaga, cautioned residents against repeating what he described as mistakes made in the 2022 elections and urged them to pray for the country.

Speaking in Parliament, Ichung’wah said the clergy has a constitutional and moral duty to pray for the country and its leaders, and should not be blamed for political outcomes that do not favour certain individuals.

“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.

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

“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.

Ichung’wah criticised what he described as attempts by some leaders to influence how Kenyans and the church should pray, saying no individual’s will could override that of God or 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.

The Majority Leader said 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,” he said.

Ichung’wah also defended the integrity of the electoral process, saying 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, noting that religious leaders guide the nation spiritually and do not determine electoral outcomes.