COVID-19:Kenya police raid church, arrest priests, nuns

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Kenyan police on Saturday raided several churches where congregants and church officials were defying government-issued orders banning any kind of public gatherings including worshiping in churches and Mosques.

Bungoma South Deputy County Commissioner Michael Yator told Anadolu Agency that the suspects were arrested and detained briefly before being allowed to go home.

"We arrested two priests, several nuns and over 40 congregants for defying the law which aims at reducing and preventing the spread of coronavirus, they were arrested at St Paul's Kanduyi parish and Christ the King Catholic Church."

Deputy County Commissioner Yator said many have been pardoned and allowed to go home without providing any more details.

This comes as Kenya on Saturday recorded 7 new cases (4 Kenyans,2 Congolese and 1 Chinese national) of COVID-19, bringing the national tally to 38.

While making the announcement, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe warned Kenyans against defying laws enacted to stop the spread of the virus, forcing the government to call for a lockdown.

"We took the measures to ensure that we do not get into a lockdown."