World renowned organizations and personalities, had predicted that Africa will be the worst hit by the novel pandemic, with millions of casualties
By Jonathan Teikan
A popular Kajiado clergy has sensationally said that Africa and the Maa community in particular has “every reason” to remain thankful unto God, even as the continent continues to grapple with the unprecedented effects of Covid-19.
Bishop Julius Tinkoi, (pictured) of the Gospel Revival Centre International, told the Kajiado Star in an exclusive interview, that Africa continues to register remarkable accomplishments in the war against the coronavirus pandemic, despite a myriad of “predictions of doom” lately reported over the continent — a feat he attributes to an invisible hand of God in the ongoing battle.
Understandably, his remarks are in reference to an array of brazen predictions by world renowned organizations and personalities, to the effect that Africa will be the worst hit by the novel pandemic, with millions of casualties.
On February 15, the Microsoft founder and global health pioneer Bill Gates told the Telegraph — a national British daily broadsheet newspaper — that coronavirus could overwhelm Africa’s health services and trigger a pandemic which could cause 10 million deaths in the continent.
Later, in an interview with CNN, his wife Melinda Gates said the pandemic will have the worst impact in the developing world, and that, “she foresees bodies lying around in the street of African countries.”
World Bank is also on record as having reported that “44 million Africans [are] at risk for Covid-19.”
However the bishop says, the continent has not recorded deaths at an anticipated rate, and is optimistic that it could actually end up being the least affected.
He says: “It is not by coincidence, but by the confounding wisdom of God that we are facing these crises during rainy season, otherwise it could have been more catastrophic… human existence is never at the mercy of global pandemics, and so I see God’s hand in the rains.”
He urged the Africans not to despair, but to put their trust in God as they comply with government health directives. “It is important that we keep doing our part as human, and trust God for that which is beyond us,” — a talk he walks.
Since the first case of the coronavirus pandemic was reported in the country, in Ngong town where he hails, the bishop has been leading spirited awareness and sensitization campaigns on Covid-19, with particular emphasis to his local community; by use of short video clips, he shares through his social media platforms, and also through local radio stations.
Besides, in the believe that “the preaching of the Gospel is holistic”, he has also been capitalizing on his global network of co-preachers to mobilize donor funds to drill water boreholes in thirst-stricken areas of the Maasai community, which span counties of Kajiado, Narok and Samburu.
His latest water project was at Kipeto, in Kajiado West Sub-county, and which was funded by Worldserve International, and is expected to benefit thousands of locals who have been facing acute shortage of water even lately when the world is battling with Covid-19. He also took the opportunity to distribute face masks and to sensitize the locals on the need to observe government directives aimed at containing the spread of the coronavirus. He hopes to reach-out to other counties in the near future.
“We undertake these projects indiscriminately across the areas as they have need; without regard to their denominational affiliation. In fact, once the project is done, we leave it for the community to take charge,” he said.
He has also been liaising with local governments in establishing or renovating inadequately equipped education facilities in the far-flung areas of Kajiado County.
Furthermore, when this publication visited him in his church in the Ngong town, he had foodstuffs he has been distributing to the vulnerable members of the public in the town, including some members of the clergy that are serve under him, whom he said, were also affected by the closures of businesses.
“I urge the Christian fraternity not to renege on their responsibility to take care of the pastors, as most of them are not only affected by the church closures, but also closure of businesses.”
