By Urban Shihemi, November 6, 2025 

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) leadership, led by Chairman Sheikh Abdallah Ibrahim Ateka, has urged Kenyans to place peace above individual rights and to actively register as voters to fulfill their constitutional duties.

“Our message is simple: peace must come before politics. We can only enjoy our rights, including the right to vote, when our country is stable and united. We urge all Kenyans to register as voters and use the ballot, not violence, to express themselves,” said Sheikh Ateka.

The leaders made the remarks during a high-profile meeting with imams from Nairobi County at the Sir Ali Muslim Grounds in Nairobi. 

Speaking to the media ,Sheikh Athman Abdallah Darwesh, the CIPK Nairobi coordinator ,stressed that while rights are fundamental, they must not come at the expense of societal peace. 

"Islam teaches us that peace is more important than personal rights, we call on all Kenyans to prioritize peace over rights," he said. "In times of division, it is peace that safeguards our nation and allows us to thrive together." 

The leaders called on eligible citizens to register as voters, describing it as a sacred obligation that strengthens the country's democratic foundation.

Former CIPK Secretary General Sheikh Mohammed Dor echoed the chairman’s sentiments, reminding Kenyans of the painful lessons from the 2007 post-election violence, which claimed thousands of lives and displaced others.

"Kenyans must remember what the country went through in 2007," Sheikh Dor stated. "We cannot afford to repeat those dark days. Remain peaceful and perform your constitutional right of voting. It is through the ballot that we build a better future, not through chaos."

CIPK Coast Regional Coordinator Sheikh Khalifa Muhammad, called for mutual respect among citizens and responsible use of digital platforms. "We must respect each other. "Use social media wisely, let it be a tool for unity, not division or hatred."

The calls come amid ongoing efforts by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to boost voter registration through its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which resumed in September 2025 targeting 6.3 million new eligible voters, 70 percent of whom are youth.

Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, commonly known as CIPK is a faith based non profit and charitable organization that brings together respected Islamic Scholars, Imams and Muslim Preachers from all over the Republic of Kenya.