Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday met church leaders of the East Africa Pentecostal Church from Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Nairobi and Isiolo counties.
This is despite the cessation of movement order into and out of Nairobi, which was extended by President Uhuru Kenyatta on June 6.
The clerics, led by Presiding General Overseer Bishop Samuel Henry Muguna, met Ruto at his Karen office in Nairobi.
“We are appealing to spiritual leaders to make timely presentations to the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya established by the government to expedite the reopening of the places of worship,” Ruto said.
“We are pleased the Council is already developing protocols for the systematic resumption of services in the houses of prayer in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
This comes a day after State House, after days of hosting delegations, confirmed four officers had tested for coronavirus.
On June 1, President Kenyatta directed the ministries of Health and Interior to develop protocols towards reopening of churches.
On Friday, June 12, Interior CS Fred Matiang’I and his Health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe appointed a committee to guide the process.
“CS Mutahi Kagwe and I have jointly appointed The Inter Faith Council that will guide this process,” CS Matiang’i said on Friday.
Members of the Inter-Religious Faith Council include Bishop John Obala (KCCB), Bishop Joseph Obanyi, Rev. Moderator Julius Mwamba (PCEA), Canon Chris Kamau Kinyanjui (NCCK), Canon Rosemary Mbogo (ACK), Samuel Makori and Al Hajj Hassan Ole Naado (Supkem).
Others Sheikh Sukyan Hassan Omar (Supkem), Sheikh Abdulatif Abdulkarim (KCIU), Rev. Joseph Mutie (OAIC), Bishop David Onginde (Citam), Rev. Connie Kivuti, Sujata Kotamraju (Hindu Council of Kenya), Retired Rev. Samuel Thiong’o Mwangi (General Conference of Akorino Churches Assembly) and Sheikh Ali Said Samojah.
Doctor Kepha Ombacho (Director of Special Programmes, Ministry of Health), Francis Kuria (Inter-Religious Council of Kenya) and Paul Famba (Director of Administration Interior ministry) will serve as joint secretaries.
The team has also been tasked to come up with protocols for the celebration of weddings and other religious ceremonies in the places of worship under social distancing guidelines.
They will file a report to President Kenyatta, through the National and County Government’s coordinating summit.
