Catholic church Kakamega Diocese Bishop Joseph Obanyi has faulted the government’s move to close churches in Western and Nyanza regions one month ago.
Obanyi has said it was unfair for the government to close the churches yet they were in forefront in adhering to the ministry of health Covid-19 containment measures, “It was not right for the government to close down churches considering that Bishops and worshippers are disciplined when it comes to following the Covid-19 protocols. If there was a rise in cases of Corona Virus then it was not caused by churches, we all know what caused the increase. I hope that won’t happen again.”
Speaking at Lukolis village in Teso South Sub County, Busia County during the burial of Mama Audesta Aino, mother to priest Gregory Ejakait, Obanyi who is also the acting Bungoma diocese Bishop, however urged priests and all Christians to continue adhering to the ministry of health Covid-19 protocols, “Priests make sure that the protocols are strictly followed. Reactivate Covid-19 committees and ensure they play their roles effectively.”
He revealed that they are taking stock of the total number of priests and other church leaders and servants of God who have fallen to Covid-19 disease, warning that the number was alarming, “We shall soon reveal the data after compiling it and I tell you the numbers are shocking.”
Busia County Governor Sospeter Ojaamong who attended the burial joined echoed Bishop’s sentiments urging locals to continue observing containment measures, “Covid-19 is real. Recently there was a funeral at Machakus where people attended in large numbers and threw caution to the wind. As we are speaking now six people who attended the funeral have died of Corona Virus and several others are still battling the disease. So when we tell you to be careful please obey.”
He warned that it was too expensive to treat the disease with the county facing shortage of oxygen, “It’s very costly to take care of Covid-19 patients most of whom need oxygen.”
