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 COVID-19 guidelines.
Worshipers began arriving as early as 9am, but many failed to wear masks, despite the government's efforts to contain the spread of the disease.
Some churches also failed to provide basic amenities such as handwashing points and thermo guns for screening worshipers before entering the premises.
According to a survey by the Nation, many churches lacked these essential facilities, making them potential breeding grounds for the virus.
As of now, COVID-19 has claimed over 225 lives and infected more than 12,750 people in Kenya.
Furthermore, some churches allowed children younger than 13 years to attend services, despite the government's guidelines setting a minimum age limit of 13 years.
Interestingly, many churches recorded a poor turnout of worshipers, with some services attracting as few as 10 to 20 attendees.
On the other hand, some churches remained closed due to a lack of worshipers, with the reasons for this unclear at the moment.
