This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
On Sunday, churches in Kirinyaga and Embu counties reopened, but the occasion was marred by a lack of adherence to government guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Worshipers began arriving as early as 9am, but only a few wore masks, and many failed to observe social distancing rules.
According to government guidelines, people aged 58 and above are not allowed into places of worship, but an elderly woman was spotted outside St. Joseph's Cathedral in Kakamega County on July 19, 2020, as mass went on inside.
A survey by the Nation found that many churches lacked handwashing points and thermo guns for screening worshipers before entry.
This raises concerns that churches could become fertile grounds for the spread of the disease, which has claimed over 225 lives and infected 12,750 people in Kenya.
Some churches also allowed children younger than 13 years to attend services, despite the minimum age limit prescribed in the guidelines.
However, most churches recorded a poor turnout of worshipers, with some having as few as 10-20 attendees.
Some churches remained closed due to a lack of worshipers, but the reasons for this were unclear.
