Muheria-led team to develop protocols for re-opening of places of worship

Archbishop Anthony Muheria has been appointed to lead an inter-faith council to develop protocols for the phased re-opening of places of worship amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a Gazette notice dated June 12, the Inter-Faith Council on the National Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic will have 16 members.

“The Terms of Reference of the Inter-Faith Council are to develop guidelines towards the gradual and progressive resumption of in-person congregational worship that adheres to physical and social distancing guidelines,” the notice reads.

The team will also be expected to develop guidelines for religious funerals and gravesides/crematoria last rites and send-off as well as protocols for the celebration of weddings and other religious ceremonies in places of worship in ways compliant with physical and social distancing guidelines.

Further, the council has been tasked to come up with a prioritized implementation matrix, clearly stating the dates for re-opening and the numbers-capping applicable.

The mandate of the Council is to lapse on December 31 this year but may be extended at the discretion of the President.

The Secretariat of the Council will be located at the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government.

Members include:

• Rt. (Rev.) Bishop John Obala
• Rt. (Rev.) Bishop Joseph Obanyi
• Rt. (Rev.) Moderator Julius Mwamba
• Rev. (Can.) Chris Kamau Kinyanjui
• Rev. (Can.) Rosemary Mbogo
• Pastor (Dr.) Samuel Makori
• Al Hajj Hassan Ole Naado
• Sheikh Sukyan Hassan Omar
• Sheikh Abdulatif Abdulkarim
• Rev. (Fr.) Joseph Mutie
• Bishop (Dr.) David Oginde
• Rev. Connie Kivuti
• Sujata Kotamraju
• Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Samuel Thiong’o Mwangi
• Sheikh Ali Saidi Samojah

Joint Secretaries are Kepha Ombacho, (Dr.) Francis Kuria Kagema and (Dr.) Paul Famba.