Are we losing our collective fight against the pandemic?

Bishop David Oginde. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

Without doubt, Kenya has had one of the best strategies for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when many nations were wallowing in the miasma of confusion and indecision, the President and his team took early and pragmatic steps towards strict containment of the spread of the virus.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe is remembered for his warning, “If we continue to behave normally, this disease will treat us abnormally.” Kenyans heeded and were quite cooperative in adhering to the set MoH guidelines and protocols – often at serious personal and corporate economic cost.

Furthermore, at a time when there were serious conspiracy theories against vaccines, the government brought in the jabs for most vulnerable groups. Once again Kenyans turned out in their numbers and quickly gobbled up the limited supplies.

On the spiritual plane, the President twice called for national days of prayer to bring the nation to God. Though some mocked and jeered, many of us believe the Divine hand has spared us the devastating effects of this pandemic. Our infection and mortality numbers have remained unusually low in spite of our limited medical and technical capacities.

Thus, ours has been of a nation united in one collective purpose – to outlive the pandemic with minimal negative impact. Unfortunately, as the pandemic has become endemic, recent events seem to point to a people losing the grip and resolve to fight. For example, in spite of the reported presence of the more lethal Delta variant, there has been a general laxity in observing the guidelines and protocols. Our political leaders have led from the front in these violations, sometimes holding super spreader rallies, inadvertently giving the impression that Corona is either gone or a none-issue.

Such leaders are no better than terrorists who leave behind serious suffering and death in their wake. 

At another level, there are Kenyans working in critical sectors, but who have refused to be vaccinated. Whereas taking the jab is and must remain voluntary, it is rather selfish to refuse to take it and yet insist on serving others – sometimes at very close range. 

A dentist who declines to take the jab and yet expects his or her patients to open their mouths wide as the same doctor breathes into their nostrils and throats – sometimes with poorly placed masks – is being selfish. Equally dangerous is the teacher who rejects the vaccine and yet moves around class inspecting pupils’ work.

On the other hand, in an apparent frustration with the anti-vaccine group, the government has recently announced some drastic measures to keep these individuals from being a public menace. There is a reported move to keep from work medical workers, teachers, and some civil servants who have refused to be vaccinated. Unfortunately, in the same breath, the transport sector has been freed to carry passengers at normal capacity, including in the generally rogue matatu sector.

The scenes in the drama around the response to and management of Covid-19 pandemic are many. Time and space do not allow us to comment on the litigations and rulings in and by the courts. It is equally strange how and why the enforcement of curfew should result in brutal deaths of innocent Kenyans, reportedly at the hands of the police. As expected, this has drawn sharp reactions from Kenyans, but the frequency of the occurrences seems suspect – raising more questions than answers.

Whatever the case, we seem to be losing the initial collective resolve to keep the virus at bay. We have gone back to our old selfish ways, where the only person that matters is Me, I, and Myself.

The consequence is that the infections and positivity rates have been on the rise. Several Kenyans have lost their lives to the virus. Yet, we seem unperturbed – stuck in our selfish pursuits. And, like Apostle Paul would ask: O foolish Kenyans! Who has bewitched you? After beginning in the Spirit, are you now trying to succeed by human effort? We need to soberly review our actions and get back on track. Otherwise, this disease is going to treat us abnormally – especially as we get into serious electioneering.

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