This archive report was first published on 3 July 2020.
Published on July 3, 2020, Mombasa Pastors Fellowship (MPF) leadership has urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to reopen churches and allow congregants to worship together.
The MPF chair, Reverend Elijah Mulavu, stated that the lack of spiritual nourishment for the past four months has driven people to the brink of despair, resulting in increased cases of social vices such as gender violence, teenage pregnancies, and suicidal deaths.
According to Mulavu, the government should consider churches as essential service providers, as they offer vital services to communities.
MPF has expressed readiness to host congregants again while adhering to social distance and hygiene protocols within the places of worship.
Reverend Mulavu emphasized that pastors have been sensitized by the Ministry of Health and other non-governmental organizations on how to ensure the safety of congregants and fight stigma.
However, MPF has expressed opposition to the Reproductive Health Bill, which is currently before the Senate, citing concerns that its contents are similar to those rejected during the making of the 2010 constitution.