Worshippers still divided on regulations for part opening
Days after the government allowed for the partial re-opening of places of worship, divisions have now emerged among the religious leaders with some vowing to keep off the physical pulpit.
A section of religious groups from the Christian and Muslim faiths have rejected State guidelines on the partial re-opening of places of worship and vowed not to resume physical congregations.
Among those which have vowed not to re-open despite the government’s review of restrictions last week include the Jamia Mosque in Nairobi, the All Saints Cathedral, the Faith Evangelistic Ministries (FEM), the Jubilee Christian Centre, Parklands Baptist Church and CITAM.
Last week, the Inter-Faith Council chaired by Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Nyeri Catholic diocese announced that places of worship are free to re-open partially tomorrow (Tuesday) but in strict adherence to the protocols put in place by the Ministry of Health to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Speaking separately, several churches and the Jamia Mosque opposed the re-opening, maintaining that they will remain closed because they could not meet some of the strict requirements put in place to contain the Covid-19 disease.
Maximum worshippers
They cited the requirement that services hold a maximum of 100 worshippers and that services do not go beyond one hour, terming them difficult to observe.
Jamia mosque in a statement said that guidelines issued to limit prayers to only 100 persons per session are not practical.
“This is because the guidelines issued to limit prayers to only 100 persons per session are not practical for Jamia Mosque Nairobi given its centrality in the Central Business District of the capital city,” the Jamia Mosque Committee said in a statement.
On his part, the Provost of All Saints Cathedral Canon Sammy Wainaina said the church would not open for prayers until all protocols put in place to halt the spread of the coronavirus are met.
Covid survivor
Wainaina, a Covid-19 survivor who was discharged after 10 weeks of hospitalisation, told the congregants that he was now fully recovered from the disease and thanked Christians for praying for his recovery.
“I was in the valley of the shadow of death,” he said.
Televangelist Teresia Wairimu of Faith Evangelistic Ministry (FEM) termed the strict guidelines unfavourable and urged the church’s faithful to keep off the Karen Sanctuary in Nairobi.
“We will not be opening our Karen sanctuary considering the 100 people and one hour service will be difficult to implement because we are a big inseparable family,” said FEM in a statement.
Jubilee Christian Church under Bishop Allan Kiuna on his part said the church would not reopen just yet in orders to protect its members from Covid-19.
“We would like to announce that JCC Parklands shall continue to have online services until further notice,” he said.
The Parklands Baptist Church under Senior Pastor Ambrose Nyangao in a communication to congregants said though they welcome the government directive to reopen, they feel the number of members in a service was limited and the one hour time not sufficient.
“Significant proportion of congregants consists of families with children below the age of 13 and therefore concerned that the wholesome family fellowship will be greatly undermined,” he said.
CITAM on its part also maintained that its churches will remain closed in order to protect the lives of its members.
