KENYA: “Uphold and Enhance Solidarity with Each Other,” Covid-19 Interfaith Council as Term Ends
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
After serving the Kenyan populace for over two years since the formation of Covid-19 Interfaith Council to oversee and guide on the resumption of public worship after the pandemic hit the country, members of the Council have appreciated the time given to serve and asked Kenyans to “Uphold and enhance solidarity with each other” as the pandemic has taught.
The Covid-19 Interfaith Council that was set up in mid-June 2020, by the former Head of State His Excellency President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, comprised of 16 members from various Faith institutions including among others members the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK), the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) and the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA).
“We specifically encourage all to uphold and enhance the solidarity with each other that we have learnt during this pandemic. The wellbeing of our brothers and sisters depend on us, and vice versa,” reads in part the collective message of the interfaith council members in their appreciation statement.
The group that was tasked with addressing the possible threats posed in places of worship, and give guidelines on how the infection can be mitigated in worship gatherings acknowledged the collaboration of the Faith leaders during the period of service saying, “Never have the different faith traditions and religions felt so close and united for a common cause.”
“We have had a wonderful experience of mutual respect and working relationship which brought to life, very comprehensive and insightful guidelines, which guided the various Faith Based Umbrella bodies to implement in the Places of Worship during this whole time of the pandemic,” reads the statement signed by the chairman of the council Archbishop Anthony Muheria of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nyeri.
The council whose mandate was officially to end on 31st December, 2020, six month after its formulation was later extended by the government following the second wave of Covid-19 which called for continuous adherence to precautions and development of modalities to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
The faith leaders who expressed their efforts to navigate what they term might have been the “worst pandemic in recent history” appreciated various actors for their collaboration during the critical moments of the pandemic in the country.
“We sincerely thank all the Religious Leaders of the various Faith traditions and Religions, who really supported and implemented these guidelines right to the grassroots. Special mention goes to the County Interfaith Covid Committees who took upon themselves to regulate, address and solve emerging issues at the grassroots level,” the council members shared their sentiments.
They added, “We are also immensely grateful to the Government, who through the offices of the Cabinet Secretary Interior and Coordination of National Government, and Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health, offered facilitation and constant support to our mandate.”
According to the Faith leaders who were answerable to the former President “through the National and County Government Co-coordinating Summit” headquartered at the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government in Nairobi, there is no doubt that Covid-19 has made us “all experience fear and sorrow, faced with the threat and actual illness of people close to us.” Besides, “We have also somehow partaken of a reassuring joy when those known to us recovered, and the waning of the infection.”
They further thanked all Kenyans, who in spite of the sacrifices the directives entailed, “complied by and large, with the guidelines and indications given by this Interfaith Council.”
“At times it meant heroic forgoing of some important aspects in the distinct worship styles, of the diverse Faith Traditions,” Council members said in the statement signed Tuesday, October 18, by Archbishop Muheria adding that, “Please accept our respect and appreciations, which is yet another witness of the depth of Faith in God in Kenyans.”
The council which had two prelates representing the Catholic religion, acknowledged the efforts of the entire team of the Interfaith Council which they say, “With great focus and dedication, guided the Nation spiritually during this period.”
“We believe it was also through prayer that we have been able to overcome the pandemic. We thank you most sincerely for your dedication at every stage of this work. May God bless you and reward your efforts.”
In their Wednesday statement, the Council members appreciated the former President Kenyatta who appointed them to serve Kenyans through the respective Cabinet Secretaries highlighting that they “feel greatly honoured to have been of service to the Nation.”
As their term of service comes to an end when Covid-19 threat has come down, Faith leaders call on Kenyans to remain vigilant that even though the country has resumed all worship arrangements and returned to normalcy arrangements for each Faith tradition after the phase four guidelines are all lifted, it is still advisable “for the elderly and the sick, to continue using masks.”
