The National Alliance of registered churches in Kenya has strongly opposed the move by the government to use schools as temporary quarantine centres in its bid to fight Covid 19.
The Alliance’s chairperson Samwel Welimo said it would instead be prudent to put up isolation and quarantine tents within health centres or church compounds.
“Testing should be done on those entering and going out the centres and the identity of those tested to remain government secrets,” he said.
Addressing the media in Bungoma town Friday, Rev. Welimo who is also the presiding Bishop at Hope of God mission church commended the government for its plans to have Kenyans quarantined in their homes in future.
The clergy said that for the safety and prevention of our school going children from contracting Covid 19 and having psychological issues, schools should not be converted into quarantine centres.
He said the health guidelines like social distancing information should come from one source which should be the State and not having each governor giving his or her own directives.
He lashed out at Uasin Gishu governor Jackson Mandago for giving a directive to the effect that elderly persons aged sixty years and above should not come out of their homes.
Welimo said that we have some elderly people who live from hand to mouth and it would be an uphill task for them to get their daily bread if they won’t be allowed in town.
He called on clerics countrywide to keep on praying for the nation and the entire world so as to defeat the Covid-19 outbreak saying that prayer is the only sure medicine and solution.
By Roseland Lumwamu
