Worshipers troop to Mt Kenya forest for Covid-19 prayers

Worshipers troop to Mt Kenya forest for Covid-19 prayers

Hundreds of worshipers trooped to Mount Kenya forest on Sunday morning to seek divine intervention amid the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than a thousand and hit the economy hard.

The worshippers, who came from different parts of the country as well as abroad, also prayed about Kenya's rising political temperatures to ensure peace prevails in the country.

Donning blue, pink and white garments, as well as ribbons and headscarves, they first made a stopover at Samson corner area in Kirinyaga County where they knelt by the roadside and prayed for hours as they faced Mt Kenya.

Some of worshippers, among them Kikuyu traditional faithful, were overwhelmed by emotions and wept as they prayed, much to the amusement of onlookers.

Worshipers praying at Samson corner area in Kirinyaga County

Worshipers praying at Samson corner area in Kirinyaga County on December 27, 2020. They proceeded to Mt Kenya to seek divine protection from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Photo credit: George Munene | Nation Media Group

Their leader, Samuel Kamitha, then sprinkled holy water on them for divine protection from evil before they proceeded to the "holy mountain" to worship their God.

"We are worshipers from Kenya, America and other places. We are united in prayers for a common goal," Mr Kamitha remarked.

"There is nothing impossible with our God. When we pray on the mountain, God will hear our prayers and heal us. Even biblically, people who prayed on mountains, their prayers were heard," he added. 

At one point, an American worshipper, Terry Fitzgerald, broke down and sobbed when he saw how Kenyan faithful were united to defeat Covid-19.

"Unlike in our country where there's discrimination against black people and disunity, here in Kenya people are united even with foreigners," she said as she wept.

She said she was happy to join the group at the mountain, adding that she planned to do so every year.