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Bishops in the East African nation of Kenya have appealed to business owners and landlords to make sacrifices for the common good and not use the current COVID-19 related restrictions to exploit ordinary citizens, making “unreasonably high profits.”
Catholic Bishops in Kenya will be meeting in “coming days” to define a way that will see the lifting of the ban on public worship in the East African country after a successful engagement with the government that took place early this week, ACI Africa has been told in an interview.
Bishops in Kenya are concerned about the “divisive politics” being witnessed in the country at a time when political leaders are expected to demonstrate the unity of purpose in the fight against COVID-19.
On the occasion of the 54th World Communications Day (WCD), Church leaders and representatives of Catholic communication entities in Africa have, in separate messages, encouraged the telling of stories of hope amid the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.
Catholic Bishops in Kenya are soliciting funds from Catholics and other well-wishers across the globe to facilitate the operationalization of their television channel, Ukweli TV Kenya, that would enhance the evangelization mission of the Church in the East African nation.
A Kenyan Archbishop has expressed his concerns about politicians in the East African nation who are engaging in political rhetoric at a time when all leaders are expected to be focused on initiatives to curb the possible spread of COVID-19.
The Bishop overseeing the Social Communications Commission of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has challenged journalists in the East African nation engaged in reporting about COVID-19 “to rediscover” their individual responsibility to convey verified messages amid misinformation and disinformation about the pandemic.
The Bishop at the helm of Education at the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has sought to calm parents who are anxious about the education of their children after weeks of indefinite school closure amid COVID-19 restrictions and urged them to prioritize the “health and safety” of their children.
Reports that potential COVID-19 drugs and vaccine could be tried on Kenyans have attracted criticism from citizens of the East African nation, including a Catholic Bishop who, in a statement, has explained why such alleged trials would undermine the dignity of Kenyans and amount to a breach of the country’s constitution.
Catholic Bishops in the East African nation of Kenya have raised concerns over the alleged misappropriation of the over KES.1 billion (US$10 million) COVID-19 Emergency Fund that has been so far raised by well-wishers and corporate firms in view of cushioning vulnerable Kenyans against the impacts of restrictions due to the pandemic.
Catholic Bishops in the East African nation of Kenya are appealing for support to facilitate the realization of their collective initiative that seeks to assist those affected by COVID-19 pandemic, especially the most vulnerable, “including the 2.5 million people living in informal settlements.”
The plight of thousands of people affected by floods and landslides in parts of Kenya is a concern of Catholic Bishops in the East African nation. They are appealing for “any form of support” to save lives of at least 400 households that have survived the effects of heavy rains in recent days.
About 100 mourners who wore white and blue face masks as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 gathered at Holy Family Basilica in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, to bid farewell to a distinguished Catholic Archbishop who died on March 30 after nearly 60 years of shepherding the people of God the East African country.
With the global pandemic of COVID-19 receiving unrivalled news media coverage, a Bishop in Kenya has challenged personalities behind “all the channels of communication” to strive to tell stories that give “hope and preparedness” rather than despair.
Kenyans, including members of the clergy, religious men and women, lay faithful and government officials have paid glowing tribute to the Archbishop emeritus of Nairobi, Raphael Ndingi Mwana a’Nzeki following his death that occured Monday, March 30.
The brutality meted out on a section of Kenyans by police officers in their bid to enforce the dawn-to-dusk curfew put in place by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19 has caught the attention of Catholic Bishops who, while condemning the Friday, March 27 episodes, have called on security officers to act with a human face, respecting the dignity of persons.
The recent negative media framing of the Church in Kenya as “a weak link” and “an agent of death” has been condemned and termed unethical, with a section of Catholics in the East African nation calling on the institution that regulates media standards, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), to sanction the implicated media outlets.
The Catholic Bishops in Kenya have, in a collective statement Monday, March 23, officially suspended the celebration of public Mass and other Church gatherings in line with the government’s directives to control the spread of COVID-19, including a ban on all forms of religious gatherings.
The immediate closure of all places of worship in Kenya was among the raft of measures the government announced Sunday, March 22 in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 after the confirmed cases of the deadly virus increased more than twofold from 7 to 15, while in neighboring Tanzania, the country’s President was reported encouraging public worship.
Church leaders in Kenya and Uganda have, in separate statements issued Thursday, March 19, announced that Churches will remain open in the two East African countries for public Mass, a move that has attracted both praise and condemnation from the faithful as governments take a raft of measures to contain possible spread of COVID-19.