KENYA: Interfaith Council Advocates for Uptake of Covid-19 Vaccination

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

Members of the Interfaith Council for National Response to Coronavirus Pandemic has encouraged Kenyan’s to continue taking the jab to protect themselves from the virus and people around them especially the vulnerable.

“We note the greater uptake of the vaccines by Kenyans in the last month,” members of Interfaith Council commended citizens in their collective statement dated Monday, September 27, adding that, “we encourage all Kenyans to take the vaccine so as to protect ourselves from serious illnesses.”

Speaking on behalf of the members, the Interfaith Council Chairman Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri Catholic Archdiocese urged Kenyans to assist the elderly get vaccinated “since many times they are further away from vaccination points and may not even be aware of it.”

“They are our loved ones and we do not wish to lose their lives by chance through Covid-19 illness. Let us support the vaccination efforts according to our possibilities,” Archbishop Muheria said in their Monday statement.

The Religious leaders further expressed condolences for the lives lost due to Covid-19 urging for joint prayers for the souls of the dead and intensified petitions for end of pandemic saying, “Let us also show solidarity with those affected and infected. No doubt the final solution rest in our prayers to God.”

While addressing Kenyans in their joint statement, members of the body that was created last year by the Head of State and mandated to oversee the resumption of public worship in the country, has cautioned politicians to keep off from political campaigns which is fueling the spread of coronavirus in the country.

“Our concern as we have mentioned many times is the political gatherings which seem to undo many of the gains we make,” reads in part the statement of Religious representatives from various faiths as they appeal, “we plead to all Kenyans to put their lives first and desist from participating in these gatherings where little effort is made to live the precautions and protocols given by the Ministry of Health.”

They added, “We have pleaded with the political class to seek alternative methods of popularizing themselves that do not endanger our citizens.”

In their observation, the Council members noted that there was a “tremendous surge in infection in July and September” and the high numbers of Covid-19 related deaths, “where the prevalence remained at over 15% for a very long time,” and appreciated the decline being realized saying, “We are glad to note that the numbers seem to be coming down and the prevalence stands at around 9%.”

They further urged Religious leaders, congregants in places of worship and all citizens to continue “sustaining the efforts to live up to the preventive hygiene measures against Covid-19 since pandemic… continues waging war.”

The Interfaith Council members in their collective statement lament on flouting of Covid-19 rules especially during funerals and pleads with Kenyans through Religious leaders “to shorten the time between death and the burial, so as to reduce the number of the preparation gatherings,” and to adhere to the Interfaith Council guidelines “which include not to offer any meals at the funeral.”

As Religious leaders encourage congregants to observe the laid down directives, members of the Council emphasize the time limit for worship services to continue at 120 minutes.