KENYA: Government Cautions Security Agencies Against Harassing Religious Leaders

By CISA

KISII, AUGUST 11, 2020 (CISA)– Dr Fred Matiang’i, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Security, has cautioned security agencies tasked with  enforcing Covid-19 prevention and control measures against harassing religious leaders.

While speaking in Kisii on Friday, August 7, Matiang’i said it was in bad faith for the officers to storm religious gatherings and subjecting faithful to unnecessary disruptions.

“We have clear protocols put in place put in place to guide on procedures of places of worship. Let us not harass religious leaders but address any issues through the interfaith council,” he said, stressing that the government had collaborated with the Interfaith Council to come up with protocols to reopen places of worship.

In situations where a certain church has contravened the set protocols, the Cabinet Secretary suggested that the enforcement officers should liaise with the Interfaith Council on Covid-19 to address the issues.

He encouraged church leaders to follow the measures put in place by the council.

“It is a tough time to be president of any country or minister for health, My brothers and sisters let us pray for those who are directly involved in this fight because it is only God’s intervention that will sail us through,” he said.

He stressed on continued adherence to the guidelines being set by the Ministry of health saying they will play a key role in containing the disease.

CS Matiangi had accompanied Mutahi Kagwe, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health Health, during his tour to Kisii County.