Pray for our spouses, children! Chebukati pleads with Kenyans

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati has asked Kenyans to pray for the spouses and children of IEBC staff.

Speaking on Wednesday during a prayer breakfast meeting with the clergy, Chebukati said their families suffer in silence.

"Behind the scenes for all of us are our families, the ones who suffer silently, you may not know but our wives and children need prayers because in whatever we do, they also have their friends and belong to various groups. They need prayers so that they can stand with us in this journey," he said.

The prayer breakfast was held at the Bomas of Kenya.

The electoral body's chairman asked that the clergy and Kenyans to pray for IEBC staff to remain strong and have the ability to make decisions that are full of wisdom, and acceptable to all.

Chebukati noted that their staff go through a lot of harassment and they need prayers to stand strong. 

"Please pray for the IEBC staff. Those involved in the national tallying centre, the returning officers in the 47 counties and 290 constituencies, the clerks who will be at poling stations, the presiding officers."

He added, "Police need prayers because without them we cannot manage this process. Right now they are escorting ballot papers to various polling stations and they need prayers to work for the good of the country."

The remarks come a few weeks after his wife Mary Chebukati called on Kenyans to pray for the IEBC chairman.

Speaking during a funeral service, Mary opened up on how her husband’s work had kept him away from his family.

"Please pray for our family, especially during this electioneering period. All I know is my husband wants to follow the law," she said, adding that, "Most times we see him on TV even more than we see him physically because of his work but I’m thankful he is here today."

Mary noted that their children were deeply affected by the 2017 election exercise but they are now strong, and so is Chebukati.