Church asks for more patience on re-opening plans
George Kebaso @Morarak
The Inter-faith Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) has appealed to Kenyans to exercise patience as it races against time to finalise proposals on guidelines for re-opening of places of worship.
Rev Anthony Muheria, the council’s chairperson, said the probability of re-opening places of worship and the economy is high, “but the begging questions are we ready?
Are we prepared?” Muheria yesterday hinted that the initial development of indicative guidelines—to be handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta—could be ready today, or at the weekend.
Anxiety for the re-opening of the economy as promised by President Uhuru on July 6 is already at fever pitch. “We are concluding the initial guidelines this week.
Safety measures
It could be tomorrow or in the weekend, but we should have a draft document ready before Monday, the date when the President is expected to announce the re-opening of the economy,” Muheria said at Ufungamano House where the council’s members converged with governors to discuss the initial guidelines the council has established.
However, he insisted as this process is going on, Kenyans should be patient and continue to adhere to the Ministry of Health Covid-19 social distancing protocols.
“Yes, the probability of re-opening of places of worship and indeed the economy in general is high and in the hands of God, but what we are asking worshippers is to be patient and follow the safety and hygiene protocols,” he said.
He was flanked by the other council members and Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana, representing the Council of Governors (CoG).
The CoG proposed to the council to have churches set aside some of their facilities for quarantine services and take a lead in speaking out about teenage pregnancies and Gender Based Violence (GBV), two vices that have recently peaked.
