This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
Published on July 12, 2020, Archbishop Anthony Muheria, the Chairman of the Interfaith Council, emphasized the importance of being one another's keeper in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The guidelines drafted by the Interfaith Council have contemplated all possible instances of physical interaction in the places of worship and during ceremonies where the faithful congregate.
However, the crux of the matter lies not in the letter, but in the spirit of the guidelines.
The spirit of the guidelines calls for each individual to internalize, own, and protect the pact that we are all subscribing to. It calls for each one of us to be our brother's and sister's keeper, to step up to the plate, and be a driver in ensuring that we all do what it takes to keep COVID-19 at bay.
Our places of worship are special in this fight against COVID-19. It is here that we learn to live the great command of loving our neighbor.
With over 70% of Kenyans congregating in places of worship every week, it is a different league altogether. It is in our places of worship that we are most free, most interactive, and, for that reason, most susceptible.
It is not about maintaining the scientific distance of 1.5 meters, but rather understanding that you are doing so to protect your brother as you protect yourself.
Our places of worship are well-positioned to be the most ideal places for advocacy and spreading the word on curbing the spread of this disease.
Our different religions might be different in the way we live out our beliefs, but all believe in God whom we worship, and a common thread in all is the doctrine of being one another's keepers.
This war can be won if all religious leaders champion compliance through spiritual persuasion.
