During the 22nd National Prayer Breakfast held on May 28, 2025, at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi gave an emotional prayer that has sparked both admiration and outrage.
The annual event, attended by top government officials including President William Ruto and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, was meant to promote peace and reflection. But Elachi’s remarks quickly became the main topic of conversation.
In her prayer, Elachi called for divine help to deal with what she described as the dangerous influence of social media on the country’s youth. She referred to social media as a spirit that had taken control and was now running the country.
She prayed for young people to be freed from its grip and asked God to give leaders the courage to regulate online spaces.
However, while her words moved some, many Kenyans were quick to point out the hypocrisy. Elachi, a member of Parliament, is part of the very system she condemned.
Daggorreti North MP Beatrice Elachi
She spoke passionately about looting, irresponsible leadership, and how leaders had lost their values. Yet she belongs to a political class that has consistently failed to protect public resources and has contributed to the very moral decay she was praying about.
Her prayer also touched on gambling and the rising desperation among the youth. She said leaders had chosen money over integrity and even accused some of undermining the president. Her tone was heavy with emotion, and some in the audience were visibly moved.
But on social media, the response was mixed. Some users praised her for speaking the truth, while others called it a performance meant to shift blame. Many asked why she waited until a public prayer meeting to speak out when she sits in a position of power that could help drive real change.
The theme of this year’s breakfast was Rise and Rebuild. Elachi’s prayer matched the theme in words. But whether it will lead to action is another matter entirely.
