Kenya turns to prayer as coronavirus numbers rise

The sudden rise in the number of Covid-19 cases over the past few days shows Kenya is not yet out of the woods.

Yesterday, 442 cases were reported and today, President Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured) will oversee a National Prayer Day at State House that will be attended by leaders of various faiths to seek direction from God on this unprecedented occurrence.

The prayer ceremony will be the highlight of three days of national prayers that commenced yesterday.

“His Excellency the President has dedicated the forthcoming weekend, Friday October 9 to Sunday October 11 as a national weekend of prayer during which Kenyans are encouraged to pray for the country in their usual places of worship in compliance with Covid-19 containment protocols,” State House spokesperson Kanze Dena said earlier this week.

In March, when Covid-19 started to spread, President Kenyatta presided over a National Prayer Day to seek divine intervention.

“But fellow Kenyans even with these efforts, we cannot ignore the need to turn to God. In these circumstances as we have done in the past as a nation, we have always turned to God first to give thanks for the many blessings that He has bestowed on our nation. But we also turn to God to share our fears, our apprehensions, but also to seek his guidance and ever-present protection,” President Kenyatta said back then.

Neighbouring Tanzania will join Kenyans as they seek divine guidance. The Tanzanian Swahili Times quotes the country’s President John Magufuli asking Tanzanians to observe three days of prayers on behalf of Kenya.

On Thursday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni presided over the country’s 22nd prayer day at State House in Entebbe under the theme ‘God will heal and protect our land’.

“On Covid, I hear people are now relaxed. Until we are sure of a cure or vaccine, please don’t rest on your laurels. This disease has killed over one million people globally in just a few months,” said Museveni during the event.