The Role of Religion in Public Life: COVID-19 and Gender-based Violence in Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Rowman & Littlefield
Abstract
When the World Health Organization (WHO) chief declared the COVID-19 spread to
be a global pandemic, renowned global philanthropist Melinda Gates of Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation projected that Africa was waiting to see hundreds of thousands of fatalities.
She cited weak economies, poor healthcare systems, increasing slum dwellings, lack of clean
water, and high rates of poverty as some of the reasons why COVID-19 was going to ravage
Africa. Contrariwise, Africa has not experienced high Coronavirus cases compared to the
USA, Europe, and Asia. However, the pandemic has revealed what human rights activists
have been decrying of Africa for decades, namely, widespread economic disparities and
social inequalities. The pandemic is disparaging Africa not by COVID-19 related sicknesses
and death, but by exposing the already existing dysfunctional political, economic, and social
systems.
At the center of the said dysfunction amidst a pandemic are religious institutions which
often have acted as an adhesive in the society. Not only do religious organizations bring
people together for worship but also do shape life and morality amongst communities.
However, in the recent past, the religious space has delegated that role to secondary parties
such as civil society organizations. There is less and less public engagement on matters of
politics and push for socio-economic reforms. As containment measures against further
spread of the Coronavirus, the religious places of worship were considered as ‘nonessential’
need. While from a public health standpoint it is known that this was a containment measure
to curb the COVID-19 spread, it symbolically brings in the question of whether religious
institutions rose to the occasion as a public defender. This is even though African life is
fundamentally rooted in religious foundations.
In this chapter, the authors will firstly discuss the role of religious institutions during
the COVID-19 period on the public. Secondly, the paper will analyze the impact of COVID19 on gender issues in Kenya. Lastly, the authors will suggest viable options for restoring the
prophetic voice of various religious institutions in Kenya’s public life in the event of future
global crises for sustainable development
Description
Book Chapter
Keywords
Role of Religion, Public Life
Citation
Munyao, M., & Kithuka, E. (2021). The Role of Religion in Public Life in Kaunda C.J. (2021 ed) Religion, Gender, and Wellbeing in Africa. Rowman & Littlefield