This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
Low Turnout Recorded as Churches Reopen in Kenya ¶
On Sunday, July 19, 2020, churches in Kenya reopened after a period of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the turnout was low as many worshippers avoided services.
Churches that reopened observed strict containment protocols laid out by the Ministry of Health. These measures included the provision of ample sanitizers, enough water for handwashing, and temperature checks.
At the Shrine of Mary Upper Hill, for example, worshippers' temperatures were checked at the gate, and a doctor was on standby in case of any suspected cases. Water points were also available throughout the church compound, and worshippers were required to register and receive a seat number to ensure social distancing.
After every service, the church was fumigated to scale up sanitary levels. Bishop Abel Njeru explained that the church had increased the number of masses and spaced them out, with one hour gap between each mass.
Some churches had decried the stringent rules and opted to continue with online fellowships instead of reopening their physical services. Jamia Mosque, for instance, decided not to open due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and deemed the restrictions impractical.
