KENYA: Transition to Phase Two on Resumption of Public Worship Extends Age Limit, Allows Group Meetings
Archbishop Anthony Muheria, Chairman Interfaith Council for COVID-19 response
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
As the Republic of Kenya transits to Phase two reopening of places of worship which is to commence Friday, October 2, following the flattening of the curve, the Interfaith Council for Corona Pandemic Response has revised the age limit of congregants, increased the duration of worship and has allowed special groups for in-person meetings.
“We will now welcome the elderly over 65 years and young ones under 6 years to the worship,” reads the Interfaith Council collective statement signed by the chairman Archbishop Anthony Muheria while cautioning that the vulnerable and sick continue worshipping at home to avoid contagion.”
The statement dated Tuesday, September 29, reads, “We will also allow group meetings and special service for the youth and special groups provided they follow the criteria of social spacing and duration.”
According to the members of the Council, the duration of worship session will be two hours and the “number allowed in any space of Worship will now be one-and-half-metre social distancing.”
The Council members drawn from various religious groups explained that the guidelines for phased transition is determined by “the number of new cases, the number of daily deaths and other indicators like the positivity rate,” and have appreciated religious leaders for their support to ensure adherence in worship places.
“We are sincerely grateful to all religious leaders, for their cooperation and collaboration in the process of phased reopening of Public Worship,” the statement read and explains further, “Compliance of guidelines in places of Worship has been over 95%.”
Addressing the challenges faced concerning adherence to the guidelines during funerals, the Interfaith Council members noted that funerals still continue to present the biggest danger in the gathering of the people.
“We are sincerely and passionately appealing to you dear Kenyans to consider the dangers our irresponsible behaviour in our funerals can cause… We do not want the funeral to be a cause for other funerals we can avoid,” they explained adding that Kenyans have flouted not only COVID- 19 guidelines, rules and protocols, “but even the total lack of decency and respect especially from the political class.”
In this regard, besides observing the guidelines of hand washing, sanitization, social distancing and temperature checks, the Council has raised the number of attendees to 200 but only allows 50 people at the graveside.
Other directives for funeral gatherings include worship of not more than 2 hours with no meals served and the bodies of the deceased to be transferred straight to the place of service.
“We must recover the meaning of the funeral as a prayer gathering, and not a political status, or public spectacle platform,” the interfaith Council highlighted adding that “Funerals must return to be Funerals.”
The members also asked the politicians to comply with the COVID-19 guidelines, postpone public gatherings and be examples to other Kenyans.
“We wish to appeal to you our political leaders that we should not gamble with the lives of Kenyans. We ask you to postpone your public gatherings that put our people at risk, because they gather without masks and without social distancing,” the Council Members underscored and added, “Give us an example of compliance beyond wearing masks. Consider putting all your political on hold, until we are fully out of the woods in this Corona pandemic.”
