This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to reopen places of worship today comes with strict guidelines to curb the spread of Covid-19 among worshippers.
According to a confidential draft report by the Inter-Religious Council, the roadmap to guide the re-opening of places of worship spells out measures to be enforced at all places of worship.
The report proposes that children below the age of two and over 65-year-olds be barred from attending church services, while services should strictly run for about an hour.
Proper physical distancing is also expected to be maintained, with seats placed one meter apart and areas clearly marked.
Worshippers are expected to strictly wear appropriate masks, and thermometer guns should be available to check temperatures.
Sanitizers should be provided, and no direct interaction should be allowed, with a room set aside for isolation.
Speaking to People Daily, Nyamira County SDA conference chairman, Dr Thomas Nyakundi, said that closing churches does not mean forsaking their faith with God but to protect many lives which are a precious gift from God.
He emphasized that even though churches are not opened, they were still doing their work of preaching the word of God through prayers as church ministers.
Dr Nyakundi also suggested that the same should apply to schools, adding that once the pandemic has been addressed, the schools should be allowed to open and operate freely.
