Siaya clergy faults State for closing churches

Clerics from Siaya under the umbrella of county council of church leaders now want the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and his health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe to apologise to the church for "disrespecting it through a prolonged closure".

They claimed the church has not been treated with respect since the Covid-19 pandemic began.

Speaking in Siaya town, the clergy led by Bishop Isaac Obure of Future Life Church, who is also the chairman of the county council of church leaders, accused the government of hiding behind Covid-19 to frustrate churches. 

"The government has opened essential services like restaurants, bars, supermarkets as well as open air markets, yet the church of Jesus Christ has not been included as essential," said Bishop Obure.

He held that the right to worship is enshrined in the Constitution.

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"Does it mean the church is the only institution where people do not follow the law, practise hygiene, use common sense and respect leadership? Why would the government single out the church as a vulnerable institution for the spread of coronavirus? These are some of our big questions begging for answers," claimed Bishop Obure. 

Bishop Obure who was accompanied by Bishop Apollo Anyango who is the Secretary General of the council of church elders, Bishop Nicholas Oloo and Pastor Samwuel Chiaji blamed the rise of teenage pregnancies, domestic violence, pornography and drug abuse on lack of physical contact with the church which is the custodian of morals.

They questioned the modalities the committee of inter-religious council chaired by Arch Bishop Antony Muheria, who were appointed by Matiangi and Kagwa, was going to use to review the opening of the places of worship that are "superior to what World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ministry of Health prescribes as scientific proof to curb the virus".

The inter religious council committee has also been tasked to come up with protocols for the celebration of weddings and other religious ceremonies in the places of worship under social distancing guidelines.

They will file a report to President Uhuru Kenyatta through the National and County Government coordinating summits.