The Catholic Church has condemned the arrest of a nun accused of blocking health officials from administering vaccines for measles and rubella (also known as German measles) to pupils in a private school.
Nakuru Catholic Diocese Bishop Maurice Muhatia yesterday termed the arrest of Sister Cecilia Kamau, the headmistress of the Catholic-sponsored St Anthony Academy in the county’s Bahati Constituency, as an “unfortunate act”. His condemnation came a day after County Public Health Officer Samuel Kingori and plainclothes police officers stormed the institution and arrested the teacher after she blocked them from conducting the vaccination.
The bishop claimed children in their institutions had been left traumatized after medics forcibly conducted the vaccination. He challenged the Ministry of Health and the county government to explain why they were using force in the vaccination. His remarks come after it emerged that members of the church have been resisting the administration of the vital immunization, claiming it is not safe. However, more than 48 hours after her arrest, the nun was yet to be arraigned in court. The Nation also established that the teacher was no longer in police custody.