Nakuru Catholic Diocese Bishop Maurice Muhatia has told Health ministry officials from the county government of Nakuru to stop harassing staff under the privately run Catholic schools in the ongoing measles and Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign.
Bishop Muhatia's sentiments come a day after Sr Cecilia Kamau; a Catholic nun running St Anthony Academy at Heshima trading centre in Bahati was arrested over allegations that she obstructed the immunisation of pupils against MR.
Speaking Tuesday in Nakuru, the cleric also protested the move by the ministry officials to force themselves into institutions under the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru so as to conduct the campaign.
‘Our staff have been left traumatised. In one case, they went as far as arresting one of our sisters and putting her in the cell. I would like the county government to come clean about this because this is not the kind of leadership I expect to be provided in this diocese and specifically in the County of Nakuru,’ he said.
He lashed out at the officials claiming they have been locking up children in rooms so as to force them to be vaccinated.
Expressing displeasure at the said act, the bishop termed it as draconian and stated that there is a better way of handling issues.
‘I want to protest in the strongest terms possible the action by some county government officials in the county government of Nakuru in our private institutions. Officials in the County government have been forcing their way into our private Institutions. They have been locking up children like cows and chicken in rooms and going ahead with what they call vaccination. I consider this draconian I think there is a better way of handling issues. As I speak, many children have been left traumatised’, added the Bishop
‘Kenya is an independent country. We enjoy several freedoms as enshrined in the constitution and this action by the County government officials is to say the least despicable. You cannot treat children in our institutions the way the county government officials have been treating children. Without any respect. Without any care. As I speak, many children have been left traumatised,’ he added.
Efforts by this writer to get a comment from the County Public Health Office Dr Samuel King'ori over the claims by the bishop were fruitless as she was directed to the County Public Health Minister Dr Mungai Kabii who could not be reached by the time of filing the story.