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Kenya: In Coast, Some Think COVID-19 is Rich Folks’ Disease

Published

6 years ago

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The Coast region is home to at least two Covid-19 hotspots. With 61 confirmed cases, Mombasa County is only second to the capital Nairobi (206) in the number of confirmed cases.

Neighbouring Kilifi is third with 10. With this worrying statistics, you would expect that residents would take seriously measures outlined by the Health ministry to help reduce new infections.

But the situation on the ground is different, spot checks by the Nation have revealed. There is little adherence to rules on social distancing, handwashing and wearing of face masks.

Matatus still carry passengers at full capacity. At Mombasa’s Tononoka market, traders go about their normal business without masks.

Some use handkerchiefs to cover their noses and mouth while those who have them wear them incorrectly — pushed down the chin or up the forehead.

When we visited, a group of women selling bananas, tomatoes and carrots sat huddled together. There were no handwashing areas for traders and their clients.

The situation in most residential estates is equally worrying. During the day, some parents allow their children to walk out of their houses and roam about the streets without the protective gear.

“We don’t have masks for children, the manufacturers should make one fit for this special group,” said Mr Philip Nzenge, an official at the children’s department.

RULE VIOLATED

At the Likoni channel, hundreds of commuters are still forced to queue in lines that stretch up to two kilometres on the mainland.

Coast regional Coordinator John Elungata, Governor Ali Hassan Joho, and County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo have expressed concerns over the breaching of Covid-19 rules.

“I have seen locals wearing their masks on the neck or chin only to put them on when they see police officers,” said Mr Joho.

In Taita-Taveta County, a spot check at the Mwatate and Voi bus stations revealed that the terminal are still congested and people don’t wear masks.

It is also business as usual for boda-boda operators, with some carrying more than one passenger without masks.

At markets, only a few traders and buyers wear masks. In Tana River County, market days are as busy as ever.

Garsen market, for instance, hosts about 30,000 people in a single market day. Residents told the Nation that the virus is “far away” and nowhere near them.