Kitale SDA church defies order, holds service for second time

Followers of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mitume, Kitale town, defied government directives on public gatherings to conduct a church service.

The worshipers turned up at the home of Joshua Momanyi, a parishioner in Mitume, Trans-Nzoia County. This was the second time they were gathering to conduct a church service. 

Police were not aware of the congregation that took more than four hours. The faithful totally disregarded all public health regulations such as wearing face masks or observing social distancing.

On April 25, the faithful of the same church were arrested after they were found attending a service and were subjected to self-quarantine for 14 days under the supervision of their chiefs.

The faithful admitted that neither police nor any government official had given them permission to celebrate the day.

Church leaders led by Destaria Lwangu and Meshack Kasembeli accused the government of neglecting the church in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It is true we have no permission from the government to celebrate the day, but it is our calling and we have not committed any sin,’’ said Lwangu.

"This virus is killing the people of God and its high time that the government allows churches to conduct services to pray against the virus,’’ said Kasembeli.

The leaders vowed to continue to congregate and pray for the country despite the ban on gatherings.

The incident comes barely two days after local County Commissioner Sam Ojwang directed security agencies in the area to use maximum force on defiant residents.