A section of Religious leaders from Kiambu and Ndumberi locations in Kiambu County have pleaded for financial assistance from the Government to enable them to pay up rent arrears the churches accrued due to Covid 19 lockdown.
The leaders however thanked the government for re-opening the churches following unprecedented closure for 3 months. The Government closed the places of worship in a bid to contain the rising numbers of people who had contracted coronavirus with Kiambu being the epicenter of the virus.
Pastor George Kimani of African Independent Pentecostal Church of Kenya (AIPCK), Ikinu parish in Ndumberi told KNA at the church that the members were happy with the move of re-opening the church so that they can resume their prayers in the sanctuary.
Following the 3 months closure, he said the church owed rent to the tune of over 20,000 shillings which accumulated during the said period since they were worshipping in rented premises.
He also said most of the worshippers were senior members of the society who required relief food since they were not energetic enough to work and get paid for anybody. “They should be assisted with food from the Covid fund which people of good will and institutions have contributed towards” he noted.
On the issue of BBI, Pastor Kimani said there should be proper civic education for Wanjiku so that they can understand what the initiative meant for them when the time for the referendum.
He added that most of the people in his church supported the development agenda of the Government and that what they required was only for them to be enlightened and copies supplied to them since most of them did not own smartphones where they could access a soft copy from the internet.
Pastor Peter Njoroge of the Glory of God church in Kiambu on his part similarly pleaded for assistance to offset the rent arrears accumulated during the closure that was necessitated by growing numbers of the pandemic.
He told KNA at his church that his members were delighted with the opening of the church as they had engaged in worldly activities at the time when they should be worshipping the Lord. “It is extremely difficult to be consistent with bible study from our homes, and when people come together, they are able to pray and share one another’s burden” he noted.
Ben Njoroge of Christ of Mighty Church at Ndumberi trading centre told KNA that members of his church were delighted to resume their relationship with God after remaining indoors for about 3 months.
While praying for divine intervention on the corona pandemic, the man of the clothe impressed on his worshippers to continue adhering to the MOH protocols since it was the only sure way of protection.
By Lydia Shiloya
