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NAIROBI. – Some 10 000 police officers will be deployed during Pope Francis’ visit to Kenya, which is two weeks away.
An additional 10 000 National Youth Service (NYS) personnel will be deployed to assist in crown control, State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said yesterday.
Esipisu said they are expecting one million people to join Nairobi residents in welcoming the Pope, who is scheduled to arrive in the country on November 25 and stay up to November 27.
“A million people will possibly occupying every space from the University of Nairobi graduation grounds to Uhuru Park.
“Literarily, they will be covering the grounds from the Museum roundabout to Haile Selassie round about.
“That explains security deployment numbers,” Mr Esipisu said.
He said the government is working closely with the Catholic Church to pull off a “very successful experience for the Pope”.
Esipisu said the Inspector-General of Police had confirmed that security agencies are ready to receive the Pope and the operations will involve the Kenya Police Service, the Kenya Prisons and the NYS.
“The Inspector-General and his team will continue to discuss the finer details and will make a statement at an appropriate time,” Esipisu said during a Press briefing at Harambee House, Nairobi.
He also said the government is considering whether to declare a public holiday during the Pope’s visit.
“Many of you have asked whether the government will declare November 26 and 27 public holidays.
“The government is looking at the options in this matter and will make a decision based on what works best for the country,” he said.
Right Reverend Bishop Alfred Rotich, the chairman of the secretariat handling the Pope’s visit, revealed that 1,4 million out of 14 million Catholics in Kenya are expected to attend the Papal High Mass.
He said up to one billion people from across the globe will be watching and following the events in the country, for the three days.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis Secretary of Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher has urged Zambians to offer themselves completely to the service of God.
Archbishop Gallagher said Zambians should give themselves completely to God through various services aimed at assisting the vulnerable in society, as people of God .
The Archbishop urged Zambians to emulate the poor widow in Mark 12:38-44 who offered her gift to God without measure.
He said this yesterday during the Eucharistic Mass at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic Zambia.
Archbishop Gallagher is on a four- day working visit to Zambia as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Zambia.
And in delivering a goodwill message from Pope Francis, Archbishop Gallagher described Zambia as a fertile ground for the word of God. He said the church in Zambia has since 1964 continued to record massive growth as evidenced by the growing key social infrastructure such as health and education. – The Daily Nation/ Lusaka Times.
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