Join Hands, Pray Over Coronavirus - Uhuru [VIDEO]

President Uhuru Kenyatta issues a statement announcing a national prayer day over the Coronavirus at the State House Nairobi, on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta issues a statement announcing a National Prayer Day over Coronavirus at State House Nairobi, on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
PSCU

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, March 19 urged Kenyans across the country to join hands and pray over the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic that has hit the country, with seven cases confirmed so far.

Speaking from State House, Nairobi, Uhuru also announced details of the National Prayer Day to be held on Saturday, March 21, when religious leaders are expected to lead the nation in prayers over the pandemic.

"Fellow Kenyans, let us join hands together on Saturday, let us pray for our country, let us pray for our unity, let us pray to see this pandemic resolved.

"May God bless you all and may God bless the Republic of Kenya," he concluded.

A photo of President Uhuru Kenyatta issuing an address at Harambee House on Sunday, March 15, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta issuing an address at Harambee House on Sunday, March 15, 2020.
PSCU

Uhuru advised Kenyans to mark the National Prayer Day from their homes and places of work due to precautionary measures put in place to control the Covid-19 outbreak.

The official ceremony will be held at State House, Nairobi with several leaders expected to be in attendance.

Uhuru stated that despite the government implementing measures to tame the virus, the need to turn to God could not be ignored.

"In consideration of the protocols that we announced on Sunday (March 15, 2020) in addition to other protocols that will be announced from time to time, I found it necessary that this day of prayer be observed in our homes, in our places of work, or wherever we shall be residing on that day.

"This prayer day will be led by a team of religious leaders here at State House starting at 12 noon on Saturday. I am guided as I read in the book of Philippians 4:6-9," he asserted.

The confirmed cases in the country hit seven on Wednesday, March 18, as Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that three more people had tested positive for Covid-19.

The three are a Burundian national who arrived in Kenya from Dubai on March 17 and a couple from Spain who arrived in Kenya from Dubai on March 4.

Kagwe further stated that the government was tracking down all individuals who might have come into contact with the infected individuals.

The CS explained that decisions, including a nationwide lockdown, would be taken if the National Emergency Response Committee was advised to do so by a team of experts tracking the cases and analysing likely scenarios.

"We will come to that point when the NERC has determined. We are not working by ourselves. We have got a very strong team of experts in this area, who are modelling.

"They will say they have identified a person here, a person there and according to their modelling, this is the likely scenario. So depending on that advice, that is when we make those decisions. We must be clear that we don't make decisions on the basis of a feeling.

"We do it empirically so that we make decisions that are based on facts and figures," the CS explained.

Watch a video of Uhuru's speech below: