PCEA Suspends All Normal Meetings To Fight Coronavirus

The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (Kenya) has become the first church in the country to suspend all “normal meetings” including Sunday services to combat the spread of Coronavirus.

Presbyterian Church of East Africa has at least 4.5 million members in Kenya and says it has decided to take the step to help the government in stopping the spread of the deadly Coronavirus.

“We appreciate the timely and well-informed government directives which have been put in place to keep Kenyans safe and healthy,” said the church in a statement. This means that come Sunday, members of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Kenya will be required to remain at home.

“All Sunday worship services and other church gatherings are also suspended. However, all churches will remain open for private individual prayers,” said the church in a statement.

It is not clear whether they will follow suit as PCEA and suspend their Sunday services as well as any other spiritual gathering.

The government has cautioned Kenyans against going to crowded places, encouraging them to stay at home, wash their hands and observe general hygiene. All learning institutions have been shut down and students left for their homes but the government did not give any directive concerning churches.

Kenya has thousands of churches scattered across the country with at least 86 percent of the population being Christians. Despite Kenya not being a state defined by religion, the government has always been cautious while in approaching the subject.

At the same time, President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced Saturday as a National Day of Prayer in an event that will be televised live to all Kenyans.

By Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Ministry of Health through CS Mutahi Kagwe announced an additional confirmed case of Coronavirus, leading to the total number of four (4) with 111 individuals having been tested. 23 others were discharged from Mbagathi Hospital after they were found negative.

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