President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday, June 1, announced that he had directed Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to hasten talks with religious leaders, that would see churches resume.
In his speech, the president acknowledged that Kenya was a God-fearing nation and places of worship, needed to be re-opened.
"I direct the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health to continue and hasten their engagement with religious leaders," the president stated.
He added that the two ministries and church leaders, needed to come up with protocols that would be adopted to guide a more participatory way of worship while guaranteeing the safety of worshipers.
In addition, the president also directed the Ministry of Education to fast-track and finalize the ongoing consultations with the stakeholders.
Their findings would provide an appropriate calendar for a gradual resumption of education in the country.
"The guidelines should also include protocols to be followed by all learning institutions to guarantee the safety of our children," he added.
The president admitted that parents and children – particularly those preparing for the national examinations, were anxious to know what was the way forward.
Uhuru emphasized that the containment measures and protocols issued by the government were absolutely necessary.
"We also recognise that they have constrained our freedoms and indeed changed our ways of life completely," he stated.
Further, the president commended health care workers for all the response they had given in response to the pandemic.
He also recognised the researchers and innovators, including the team of University Students that designed and built a customized Ventilators.
Uhuru concluded by thanking Kenyans who provided meals for police officers manning checkpoints and artists who raised awareness of the virus through their music and artwork.
