This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip the world, Kenyans have found ways to make light of the situation. Njuguna Mwaniki, a concerned citizen, shared a humorous anecdote about two people sharing a cigarette while wearing face masks. He quipped, 'The masks may shield them from the coronavirus disease but the shared cigarette could just make them share the virus.'
However, not everyone finds the situation amusing. Nicholas Murithi, a smoker himself, expressed frustration over the exploitation of smokers. He pointed out that retailers are selling cigarettes per stick instead of a packet, resulting in a significant profit margin. 'For Sportsman and SM brands, manufactured by BAT Kenya, the wholesale price of a packet is Sh210. Retailers should sell it at Sh240. Instead, they prefer to sell per stick, at Sh15, which comes to Sh300 per packet, therefore making a cool Sh90 profit.'
Another concern raised by Ruth Gituma is the rising incidence of trauma in coronavirus quarantine centers. She warned that if not managed properly, the situation could have terrible consequences. 'We’re all for stamping out the pandemic and we ask everyone to listen and follow the government’s directives. However, there’s something that needs to be looked at critically in these facilities. We might end up with a bigger problem, even suicides, if we are not careful.'
Prof Maina Muchara was appalled by the images of police brutality on social media. He described the situation as 'most disgusting and repugnant' and called for the officers to be held accountable. 'The officers should be made to pay for their impunity.'
Derek Liech, a frustrated customer, expressed his disappointment with Airtel's slow internet services. He suggested that the company hire more attendants to ease and quicken services, especially during the pandemic. 'The services at Mombasa’s Moi Avenue Airtel Shop are extremely slow, with very few attendants serving many customers.'
Ayub Osinde, on the other hand, saw a silver lining in the pandemic. He pointed out that the discipline being enforced, such as constant sanitation and social distancing, are virtues that should be embraced even after the pandemic. 'The constant sanitation and the almost-immediate disposal of bodies, not forgetting social distancing, are virtues that should be embraced.'
