Nyanza clergy tell committee to seek views of all religious leaders on re-opening of places of worship

 Apostle Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede, chairman of the Nyanza Council of Church Leaders-Photo Courtesy.

By Dickson Odhiambo

June 16, 2020

Nyanza clergy tell committee to seek views of all religious leaders on re-opening of places of worship

The Nyanza Council of Church Leaders has urged the recently appointed Inter-Faith Council on the National Response to the Corona Virus pandemic to first seek views of the various religious leaders on the need to re-open the places of worship across the country.

They says this is because by first getting the views of leaders of the places of worship, they will be fully part of the broad-based recommendations leading to the process of re-opening of such places.
In a signed press statement to newsrooms today, they urge the Government appointed Arch Bishop Muheria led Council to speed up their work which they say will lead to the restoration of service to the Almighty in the country.

Led by the Chairman of the Nyanza Council of Church leaders Apostle Dr. Washington Ogonyo Ngede, Bishop Dr. William Abuka, Secretary, Arch Bishop Julius Otieno Oloo, Vice Chair and Bishop John Onyango Ober a member, the members of the clergy said such recommendations should be in place as soon as possible.

“We are of the view that the recommendations should be in place as soon as possible so as to allow the early re-opening and not forgetting to appreciate the Ministry of Health protocols put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.The Church in Kenya will work with Government in ensuring that the curb is flattened but on the same vein, the Service to our God must remain a priority,” says the statement.

The members of the clergy say the reason for their appeal to the committee to come up with quick recommendations aimed at the re-opening of the places of worship is that they are very much aware of the pandemic and are ready to observe all the guidelines set out by the Government to help curb the spread of the disease.

They say majority of Kenyans want the places of worship to be re-opened as soon as possible hence there is need to consider this, adding that most of the places of worship especially a number of churches are operating in rental premises hence can’t pay rent now because members are not attending the services.

“Most of them can’t also pay both water and electricity bills unless members meet. Even the workers of the church as well as the clergy can’t be paid. As the clergy, we strongly believe that cooperate prayers at the various places of worship across the country will play a very important role in curbing the spread of Covid-19.This is in addition to the spiritual message preached across the board helping to boost the confidence and faith of the people of Kenya to rise above and fight this global spiritual enemy. God Bless Kenya,” they add.

The Government in a Kenya Gazette Notice 3976 appointed a 15-member inter-Faith Council on the Response to the Corona Virus pandemic chaired by Right Reverend Arch Bishop Antony Muheria to develop stringent protocols for the phased-re-opening of the places of worship.

Other terms of reference of the Council include developing guidelines towards the gradual and progressive resumption of the in-person congregational worship that adheres to physical and social distancing guidelines as well as developing protocols for celebration of weddings and other religious ceremonies in the places in ways compliant with physical and social distancing.

Others include developing protocols for religious funerals and graveside/crematoria last rites and send off as well as developing a program for public sensitization and capacity building of all religious leaders and clergy on the protocols.

The Council is also to develop a prioritized implementation matrix, clearly stating the dates for the re-opening and numbers-capping applicable.

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