For the second year in a row, Christians in five coronavirus hit counties yesterday marked a quiet Palm Sunday without the usual procession to mark Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  

Churches remained closed and most faithful embraced online worship. Police officers accompanied by county enforcement officers moved around the counties to ensure there were no public gatherings. 

The development follows President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive last Friday banning all religious gatherings to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the five counties.

The total confirmed positive cases as at yesterday stood at 130, 214 from 1, 468, 835 cumulative tests since the first case was recorded in the country on March 14, 2020.

Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, in the Christian tradition, is the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Churches where the faithful were ministered online include, Holy Family Minor Basilica, All Saints Cathedral,  African Inland Church, Milimani, Christ is the Answer Ministries, Deliverance Church Donholm,  Parklands Baptist, Deliverance Church Zimmerman and  PCEA St Andrews Church. 

Speaking at the Holy Family Minor Basilica yesterday, Nairobi Auxiliary Bishop David Kamau called for tolerance among Christians.  “Covid-19 has put us in a state of confusion.

Let us not lose hope and let it not hinder our relationship with God,” he said. 

Citam presiding Bishop Calisto Odede in a communique directed that all church services in their assemblies in the counties listed as disease infested to revert to online platforms.

In other parts of the country, however, the faithful attended services as usual but in strict adherence to regulations by the Interfaith Council.