The government had given conditions under which church services and other necessary public gatherings can be conducted as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
On March 13, 2020, the Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe explained that while the government was placing a ban on all public gatherings, they would not prevent people from gathering for religious purposes.
He directed that worship and religious services can go on if the religious leaders provided worshippers with hand sanitizers and handwashing facilities.
"We have suspended all public activities, meetings, religious crusades, games and all events that are of a huge public measure. Normal church services can go on provided that they provide sanitizing and hand washing as people go into the worshipping areas," Kagwe stated.
His sentiments were echoed by a press release that followed later advising Kenyans on the sort of conduct to adopt while in public.
Through the statement, the government advised that individuals should maintain a distance of at least one meter between themselves and anyone else who is sneezing or coughing.
The government also advised people who are coughing and sneezing to stay at home or to keep a social distance and to avoid mixing with others in a crowd.
The government insisted that people maintain good respiratory hygiene by covering their mouth and nostrils while coughing and sneezing into a handkerchief, tissue or into a flexed elbow.
CS Kagwe also called upon all Kenyans to be cautious and to work towards collective responsibility.
"This is that time when we are calling for serious citizen responsibility. This is not a situation where we depend on the government. It is time we take responsibility as a nation," Kagwe rallied.
