KENYA: Catholic Bishops Appeal for Transparency in Management of Covid-19 Fund

NAIROBI, MAY 5, 2020 (CISA)-The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishop (KCCB) has appealed for transparency in the use of Covid-19 response fund.

The bishops concerns in the May 3 statement read by Bishop John Oballa the Vice Chairman of KCCB comes in the wake of reports on mismanagement of funds meant to contain the pandemic.

“As a Church, we appreciate several measures that have been taken by the Government to contain the spreading of the pandemic in our country.  However, we are concerned on the reports that some funds meant for the pandemic containment have been misused,” reads the statement read after televised celebration of Mass during Good Shepherd Sunday.

Bishop Oballa who is also the Chairman of Chairman of Catholic Justice and Peace commission called on the government to ensure that the funds are directed to fighting the pandemic and returning the country to normalcy.

As the country intensifies the war on the global pandemic, he noted an increase in Gender Based Violence in the society and plight of the most vulnerable in the society especially children, women and persons living with disabilities.

“As your Shepherds, we exhort the parents to take extra care of our children, including guarding them against harmful internet content,” he said, further calling on spouses to “gain a heart of love, understanding, respect and patience for each other, especially during this time of the pandemic.”

As part of the commitment by religious leaders in fighting covid-19, Bishop Oballa requested the government to support Faith-based facilities most of which serve in hard-to-reach populations in arid and informal settlement by including them in the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and allow their Healthcare workers to access Government Covid-19 treatment and isolation Facilities.

He invited Kenyans to join in prayers and solidarity with those on the frontline saving lives where disasters have occurred and medics leading the war on coronavirus.