Governor Evans Kidero should end the suffering of Nairobians

Evans Kidero Photo: Courtesy

In her enduring writings that shaped the world's understanding of grief, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, a Swiss-American psychiatrist opined that "The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known struggle, known loss and have found out their way out of those depths."

Perhaps some people are well-acquainted with Ms. Kubler as an author of a groundbreaking book entitled 'On Death and Dying.' It was in this book Ms. Kubler first discussed her theory on five stages of grief, namely; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance-which were later popularized as a compelling model in counseling.

As I re-read this book for the second time, resilience of the residents of Nairobi-a city I lived in for five years searching for employment, kept creeping throughout my mind. It was as if Ms. Kubler had Nairobians in mind as she articulated the five stages of grief.

In the wake of two storey buildings that collapsed in Makongeni and Huruma in under a month, in which eleven people were killed and scores wounded. Nairobians are indeed a grieving people, but somehow they remain strong. Name depressing situations and Nairobians will testify of their experiences, and thus, a belief among Nairobians; that if you can survive in Nairobi, you can survive in any city on the face of the earth.

In Nairobi and its environs, most feeder-roads are dilapidated. Yet, Nairobians drive on them cautiously without complaining to evade potential fatalities. Most buildings are constructed under substandard workmanship and are a disaster in waiting. Yet, Nairobians still maintain their faith in most of greedy landlords to rent spaces anyway.