This paper examines the impact of Evangelicals in the region’s politics and the implications for democracy and public policy making, with a focus on East Africa. The Kenyan case study highlights new developments in the East African region. Using the Kenyan 2022 general election and an in-depth analysis of the relationship between President William Ruto and Evangelicals, the first section of the paper investigates the multifaceted dynamics between Evangelicals and Kenyan elites and tackles their recent engagements in electoral politics. It engages with emerging trends that shape not just Evangelical leaders’ relationships with African politicians but also theological fluctuations and religious factors that shape their political behavior, religious mobilization, strategies of engagements, and their influence on electoral processes and outcomes.

The role of the First Lady in religious diplomacy is detailed in section two, and the emerging shifts and tensions from historical, theological, and transnational perspectives are discussed in section three. The demonstration elucidates the complexities inherent in Evangelical political participation before, during and after election campaigns, including the tensions between religious values, civic responsibilities, and political ideologies.

By unpacking these dynamics, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersections between religion and politics in the African continent and offers insights into the evolving landscape of electoral dynamics in the East African region in particular.