This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread in Kenya, a recent survey has found that 59 percent of Kenyans are in support of re-opening places of worship under strict protocols.
The survey, conducted by Infotrak Research in May, targeted 12,000 respondents in 24 counties and found that 65 percent of people in urban areas and 57 percent of those in rural Kenya support the plan.
According to Angela Ambitho, CEO of Infotrak, people in urban areas believe they will be able to observe social distancing and hygiene measures in larger churches, but are concerned about smaller churches in rural areas that may not be able to accommodate physical distancing.
On June 1, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the ministries of Interior and Health to hasten talks with religious leaders on how best places of worship can be re-opened under public health protocols.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and Health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe have jointly appointed an Inter-Religious Council chaired by Catholic Archbishop Anthony Muheria to review the re-opening of churches.
The council has been tasked with developing stringent protocols for a phased re-opening of places of worship, which will allow for a more participatory mode of worship under the COVID-19 pandemic.
