Garissa Pastors’ Fellowship is urging President Uhuru Kenyatta to open places of worship that closed down immediately the first Corona virus was confirmed in March.
The 10 clerics claimed that the rot in the societal morals especially among the youth was partly ‘due to the closure of places of worship’.
Addressing the press on Sunday in Garissa town, the men of cloth led by their Chairman Rev. Dr. David Matolo said the church was ready to comply with all the protocols put in place by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“Recent reports that 4,000 school girls in Machakos County are pregnant is something that should worry all of us. Other anti-social behaviours, including people turning coffee plantations and playgrounds into brothels is because Kenyans have nowhere to seek spiritual guidance,” Matolo said.
“We are urging the President, who believes in prayer, to give top priority to re-opening of places of worship during his forthcoming address to the nation,” he added.
He said most of the churches have secured the necessary equipment suggested by Ministry of Health ‘as we anxiously wait for the big day’.
Rev. Matolo added that the country could only move forward economically if the church which is the source of spiritual nourishment was incorporated in the decision making process of the country.
On his part, Bishop Fred Mumo said being the 13th Sunday since the churches stopped congregating, men of cloth have experienced financial challenges in meeting their daily family obligations as well as the unprivileged groups they support as a church.
He said the church was ready to be shut should they fail to follow the protocols laid down by the Health Ministry.
Pastor Shalom Kennedy questioned the rationale used to allow restaurants to operate while churches were left out.
By Jacob Songok
