Public Health (Covid-19 Religious Gatherings) Rules

Jurisdiction
Kenya
Citation
Legal Notice 137 of 2020
Primary work
Public Health Act
Date
31 December 2022
Language
English
Type
Legislation
Download
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LAWS OF KENYA

PUBLIC HEALTH ACT

PUBLIC HEALTH (COVID-19 RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS) RULES

LEGAL NOTICE 137 OF 2020

  • Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXII—No. 154 on 14 August 2020
  • Commenced on 14 August 2020
  1. [Amended by 24th Annual Supplement (Legal Notice 221 of 2023) on 31 December 2022]

1. Citation

These Rules may be cited as the Public Health (COVID-19 Religious Gatherings) Rules.

2. Interpretation

In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires—"County Director" means the County Director responsible for Public Health in a county;"COVID-19" means an infectious disease caused by coronavirus;"Leadership of a Religious Body" means the registered officials, a person recognized by a religious body as having authority to direct the affairs of that body or a person in charge of a religious body; and"Place of Worship" means any place or premises used for religious purposes including a church, synagogue, mosque or temple.

3. Conditions for worship

The Leadership of a Religious Body shall—(a)ensure that a handwashing station, complete with clean running water, soap and paper towels, is installed at the entrance of the Place of Worship and the effluent water from the handwashing station does not flow freely on the ground;(b)ensure that the Place of Worship is disinfected after every worship session and a disinfection schedule maintained;(c)ensure that the temperature of worshipers is measured at the entrance of the Place of Worship using a contact free thermometer;(d)ensure that not more than one hundred worshipers attend worship at any given time;(e)ensure that a worship session does not exceed one hour;(f)ensure that there are no gatherings before or after worship within the Place of Worship;(g)ensure that the worshipers do not engage in processions during worship;(h)put in place markings in the Place of Worship to ensure that a physical distance of at least one and a half metres is maintained between worshipers;(i)not provide worship materials including books, objects, religious scriptures, bulletins and hymnals to the worshippers;(j)adopt cashless collection of money or use stationary boxes for collection of money;(k)ensure that microphones are disinfected after use;(l)where preaching or the leading of worship cannot be performed with facemasks, ensure that a physical distance of two point five meters is maintained from one person to the next;(m)ensure that any religious ritual that requires physical contact is not performed;(n)provide labelled waste bins with a liner for the disposal of used face masks and gloves;(o)place signage on hand hygiene and physical distancing outside and inside the Place of Worship;(p)ensure that toilets, door knobs, equipment, instruments, hand rails and other common surfaces are cleaned and disinfected after every worship session;(q)ensure that there is proper ventilation in the Place of Worship and shall keep doors and windows open during worship;(r)ensure that overhead fans are not used in a Place of Worship; and(s)ensure that food or drinks are not sold or served to worshippers in the Place of Worship.
(2)A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits an offence.

4. Persons not allowed in places of worship

(1)The Leadership of a Religious Body shall not allow the following people in the Place of Worship-(a)a person with a body temperature that exceeds thirty seven point three degrees Celsius;(b)a person who has attained the age of fifty eight years; or(c)a person is below the age of thirteen years.
(2)Where a person is found to exhibit temperature above thirty seven point three degrees or has symptoms of COVID-19, the Leadership of the Religious Body shall immediately notify the County Director of such findings.
(3)A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits an offence.

5. Obligations of worshipers

(1)Every worshipper shall, while in a Place of Worship-(a)wear a face mask that covers the nose and mouth;(b)maintain a physical distance of not less than one point five metres from the next person; and(c)not engage in physical contact, handshaking or embracing.
(2)A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits an offence.

6. Religious ceremonies

(1)Special religious ceremonies or rites including weddings, requiem masses and baptismal ceremonies shall—(a)be restricted to fifteen people;(b)be conducted in accordance with the prescribed hygiene conditions; and(c)be conducted within one hour.
(2)A person who contravenes paragraph (1) commits an offence.

7. Attendance register

(1)The Leadership of a Religious Body shall keep an attendance list of worshipers for every worship session conducted for a period of six months.
(2)The attendance list under paragraph (1) shall contain—(a)the name of the worshiper;(b)the passport number or identification number of the worshiper;(c)the nationality of the worshiper;(d)the telephone number of the worshiper;(e)the permanent residence of the worshiper; and(f)the next of kin of the worshiper.
(2)The Leadership of a Religious Body shall provide, without undue delay, the attendance list to a public health officer upon request.
(3)A person who contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) commits an offence.

8. Training

The Leadership of a Religious Body shall ensure that the leaders and employees of the body are trained by a Public Health Officer on the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 and a record of the training maintained.

9. Penalty

A person who commits an offence under these Rules shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.

10. Enforcement

These Rules shall be enforced by the National and County Governments as the respective health authorities in line with the provisions of the Public Health Act (Cap. 242).
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