This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
June 24, 2020
Journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo reflects on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Kenyan society, drawing parallels with his experiences under oppressive regimes.
Opinion polls are often fleeting, capturing only a snapshot of a moment in time. However, the recent Infotrak poll on the Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya was a stark illustration of the country's collective despair.
According to the poll, 79% of respondents were unable to remit money to dependants, while 67% were unable to pay for utilities like electricity and water. The situation was equally dire in urban areas, where 74% of respondents were unable to pay their rent on time.
Furthermore, 75% of Kenyans had defaulted on repayment of formal and informal loans, while 67% were unable to buy medicine. The employed were also struggling, with 54% admitting to facing financial challenges after their salaries were reduced.
As the pandemic drags on, the toll on mental health is becoming increasingly apparent. A whopping 81% of respondents reported feeling anxious and stressed, while 61% felt lonely. The sense of helplessness was palpable, with 52% of respondents feeling trapped and 36% mistreated.
Onyango-Obbo draws parallels with his own experiences under oppressive regimes, where the absence of humanity and the grind of daily life were replaced by a sense of sterility and death.
He recalls the early days of the lockdown, when masked individuals in leafy suburbs would take advantage of the downtime to exercise. However, as the weeks turned into months, the spirit began to break, and the walking and running numbers dwindled.
Onyango-Obbo's neighborhood, once a cacophony of noise and activity, was now a sterile and deathlike environment. The absence of humanity was palpable, and the wildness that had taken over the hedges and lawns was a stark reminder of the pandemic's impact.
As the pandemic continues to overwhelm Kenya, Onyango-Obbo's reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the crisis.
Mr Onyango-Obbo is a journalist, writer, and curator of the Wall of Great Africans. @cobbo3
