This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
It was a night like any other in the quarantine camp, but the anxiety was palpable. The wait for Covid-19 test results had turned the residents into zombies, each one wondering if they would be the next to be evacuated.
One resident, who had borrowed a knife to cut some lemons, couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Whether they had cleaned the knife or sanitized their door handle afterwards was a mystery, but the anxiety was growing by the minute.
As the hours ticked by, the residents were on edge, waiting for the doctor in charge to appear with the results. The doctor was followed by two security men, who made their way around the camp, checking on each resident.
Any unknown number on the phone would mean a positive Covid-19 result, and the anxiety was almost unbearable. The residents knew that some people would have to be evacuated before Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addressed the nation, but who among them would it be?
As the tension mounted, a young man, nicknamed Raila Jr, made a comment that would sum up the mood of the camp. 'The son of the carpenter has nothing to do with your two legs keeping distance or your two hands washing each other,' he said.
But despite the anxiety, the residents were a family, and they cared for one another. They knew that they had to be strong, not just for themselves, but for each other.
As the doctor in charge made her way around the camp, the residents were on high alert, waiting for the news. But it was not until Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe addressed the nation that the residents knew who among them had tested positive.
Four of the residents had tested positive, including a Pakistani and three Kenyans. The news was a shock to the camp, but the residents were relieved to know that they were safe.
But the residents were not the only ones affected by the news. A drunkard outside the camp had shouted insults at the residents, calling them 'corona people' and saying they would die. The police had to intervene to calm the situation.
Despite the tension, the health workers handled the situation professionally. They informed the affected residents by phone, and the rest of the camp was left to speculate.
But as the day went on, the residents began to relax, knowing that they were safe. And as they waited for the results of their own tests, they couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that they were not among the infected.
As the sun began to set on the camp, the residents were left to wonder what the next day would bring. Would they be leaving the camp soon, or would their plans be thwarted by someone or something?
