KENYA: Prelates Call for Personal and Social Responsibility as Places of Worship Re-open
Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo, Kisumu Archdiocese (pic Courtesy KBC)
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Following a partial lift of lockdown and ban of mass gathering that have been in place since April 2020, Bishops have reiterated the President’s plea for personal and social responsibility in fighting the spread of Corona-virus as the country reopens.
“The full unlocking of the country is dependent on everyone taking personal responsibility in containing the spread of Corona-virus to flatten the curve. With this in mind, we call upon everyone of us to take our President’s call to personal and social responsibility seriously,” the Bishops said in a statement read by the chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Archbishop Philip Arnold Anyolo on Sunday, July 12.
The Bishops message comes at a time when “cessation of the lockdown is accompanied with anxieties and fear over the increasing number of persons infected and affected with Covid-19.”
Speaking on behalf of the Conference, the Prelate who is also the Local Ordinary of Kisumu Archdiocese explained, “At a personal level, each one of us should be conscious of the risk factors that facilitate the spread of Covid-19 and be committed to observe the basic preventive measures and directives from the Ministry of Health.”
According to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the older generation and other vulnerable members of the society face a potentially life-threatening risk of being affected by Corona-virus.
In this regard the Bishops say, “Each one of us should be more conscious of the high risk of Covid-19 infection to the elderly, children, and those with underlying conditions.”
“These members of our society need to be safeguarded and protected, guided by the Word of God to care for one another,” the Bishops message reads in part.
The Bishops have also encouraged people of good will and well-wishers to support those who have been infected and affected by the pandemic by practicing the values “enshrined in our cultures and religions.”
“We should also not forget those whose means of livelihood has adversely been affected by the pandemic. Therefore, we call upon all of us to continue putting into practice our cultural and religious values of compassion and generosity by feeding the hungry, taking care of the sick, clothing the naked and giving water to the thirsty,” the Bishops appealed.
The Church leaders further called on children to choose positive ways of spending their time at home as government has delayed the reopening of schools till 2021.
“Keep cordial relationship with your parents, caregivers and family members. Take this as an opportunity to strengthen your communication with members of your family and to share with them your thoughts, feelings and experiences.”
As on Thursday July 16, Kenya had recorded 11,673 cases of Covid-19 including 3,638 recoveries and 217 deaths.
