False sense of security that Covid-19 is nolonger a threat

Residents of Luckysummer area, Ruaraka Constituency getting back to their normal lives [Photo: Saada Hassan, Standard]

Tough times don’t last long. Even as the numbers of Covid-19 cases continue to rise in the country, life is slowly but surely going back to normal.

The roads are almost empty but shops remain open as traders sit outside awaiting for their next customer. These are long days, money is hard to come by so many sit in groups making stories as the sun hits hard seemingly social distancing is no longer an option.

The scenario is a bit different as you walk inside the estates and apartments, children are out playing. One or two have worn a mask but not in the right manner. For some the head is the perfect spot while for others below the mouth around the chin area fits best.

A group of four young boys are playing football. There is no goalpost to score from, no keeper to guard the non-existent post but what matters is that they get to play.

A few meters ahead is a group of toddlers. On average they are about five to six years. They seem jovial and shouting at the top of their voices, “dawa ya Corona! dawa ya Corona! (Corona’s medicine! Corona’s medicine!) With no masks at all covering their tiny faces they run around chasing each other shouting.

I am curious to see which medicine they are shouting about only to realize its’ empty bottles filled with sand that they were playing with now termed as corona medicine.

Kiosks, butcheries, salons now remain open for the better part of the day hoping to secure a penny or two before curfew hours reach.

According to Maggy Waweru a salon attendant business is still low despite life resuming back to normal.

“We hardly get customers since the virus broke out. Nowadays we just sleep and watch the television lazily as we wait for a customer to come,” says Waweru.

On a good day salons within Gathesha community in Ruaraka Constituency attract huge numbers of customers.

“Life is really tough, we have no money and we have no customers. At the end of the day we need to feed but we have nothing to offer our families,” adds Lillian a salon attendant.

Traders going on with their business, no social distancing observed. [Photo: Saada Hassan, Standard]

The situation is quiet the same for small business traders like mama mboga’s.

“We are in business but we have been affected terribly. Customers are now buying from us but they have drastically reduced the amount of foodstuffs they used to buy. For example vegetables you will find if one used to buy for fifty shillings he/she has now reduced to thirty shillings,” laments one small scale trader.

It is midday and the scorching sun cannot allow the bodaboda riders to maintain their sitting positions. They move to a cooler area as their eyes monitor around for a possible client to ferry.

“Business is as usual for us, yes the virus has affected different sectors but I can say we are still running our business as usual,” says Henry Kiarie a bodaboda rider.

According to the Economic survey 2020, in 2019 a total of 846,300 jobs were created in the economy of which 784,000 were in the formal sector while 767,900 were in the informal sector.

Many households in the country depend on the informal sector for their day to day earnings.  With measures like social distancing and closure of major markets many now rely on the local traders to purchase vital commodities like vegetables.

Creating a need for people to go out to fend for themselves and their families disregarding the stay at home orders.
In an area like Gathesha, majority of the households comprise of young families. Holding up toddlers and adults in a house no longer seems a viable option and that is why within the estates children are playing just like any other day oblivious of the threat the virus poses.

In the past two weeks the area has faced water shortages and day in day out men and women would be seen carrying loads of jerricans searching for water. A nearby mosque was grateful enough to offer them the precious commodity, but if the situation continuous it will be disastrous.

The government had asked institutions, businesses and companies to allow staff to work from home, "with the exception of employees working in critical or essential services"

People like Kiarie who depend on the bodaboda services do not identify with such a directive. He cannot operate from home and since he does not fall under the essential service providers he has to make a kill before the men in blue start patrolling the area.

Businesses were given a green light to reopen but under strict measures.
"Those who will open their restaurants must ensure social distancing amongst their clients. Tables must be placed 1.5 meters apart and self-service will not be allowed," CS health Mutahi Kagwe said, "customers will be served by an appointed stewards."

A walk across the streets of Gathesha you will meet different small eateries where men go to have the lunch meals still operating like they have always done since they were opened.

In such spaces, there is only a bench to sit on and a table to place your plate on. Brotherhood is the mantra here, you eat your share and leave, giving room to the rest who are eagerly waiting for chapatti’s to be served.

With Covid-19 knocking, small water tanks have been erected in designated positions to allow customers to wash their hands as they walk in to eat. All the other government directives are not viable for this is just but their way to survive.

 

Face masks are no longer used as protective gears, some even walk without. Seemingly this is a tired community.
I observed that once in a while some men would show up in police vehicles and monitor if people wore face masks as they walked about. Those who found themselves without would be whisked away to unknown places, but as days have gone by, no one shows up anymore.

It is two months now down the line since the first Covid-19 case was reported in the country, small scale traders, hairdressers and other business owner’s only hope that things will get better even as normalcy slowly returns.