This archive report was first published on 22 June 2021.
June 22, 2021 - Nairobi, Kenya - The Kenyan government has extended the mandate of the Inter-Faith Council (IFC) by six months until December 31, 2021, in response to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi emphasized the importance of the Council's advice in the ongoing fight against the pandemic, stating that the government will continue to work with the IFC to support and secure the public.
"There are many activities ahead where our colleagues at the Ministry of Health will require collaboration with the council as they continue with the vaccination exercise. At that point, we will have to work with structures of the IFC to ensure we support and secure our people," Matiangi said.
The Council's Chairperson Archbishop Anthony Muheria highlighted the efforts being made to ensure safe worship practices and called on religious leaders to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, particularly in the 13 hotspot counties.
"We ask our religious leaders, patiently to continue following these measures that have been given as we look into what we can be able to accommodate. As we all know, there is always the line of live streaming which continues at these difficult times that we are in as we try to still reach our congregants," he said.
The government's decision comes as the country experiences a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, with the 13 hotspot counties accounting for 60% of the national caseload in the past two weeks.
