Religious leaders in West Pokot County have petitioned the government to reopen churches and mosques by allowing faithful to congregate to allow them pray for the Covid-19 pandemic.
They are unhappy that the government has reopened restaurants but still blocked church congregations.
At a press conference in Kapenguria, the clergy under the banner of Pokot Pastors Network said the church plays a key role on spiritual matters.
They are now calling on the government to give them a proper way of conducting prayers promising to observe the ministry of health regulations in combating the Coronavirus. They urged Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to understand that contrary to public notion, many of them don’t rely on tithes but have been called by God to serve.
Led by Bishop Samuel Losili of the Christ tabernacle assembly, they said the church is well placed to pray for the County arguing that people’s spiritual wellbeing is just as important as their health.
The Bishop noted that the clergy should not be asked to only pray for people when they die.
“The churches were shut down at a time of great need, and they must reopen to meet the burgeoning needs of the community. Churches are now more essential than ever to bring comfort, hope, and help to the people they serve,” said Bishop Losili.
He reiterated that it has become hard for them to conduct mass on social media and online as the process is expensive.
“Those christians who we are giving sermons to wont afford to buy internet bundles and most of them have no smart phones. We need fellowships to continue and religious communities should be trusted enough to be permitted to open gradually under certain conditions,” he said.
Pokot Pastors Network chairman Rev Ronald Chumum said the church can observe the rules, “Churches are spacious and are ready to observe the measures. We will put in place measures like observing social distance and sanitizing.” He added that online streaming of services was to offer a helping hand but not to be a substitute.