This archive report was first published on 7 May 2020.
COVID-19 Lockdown Imposed on Eastleigh and Mombasa's Old Town ¶
On May 6, 2020, the Kenyan government imposed a lockdown on Eastleigh in Nairobi and Old Town in Mombasa in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.
The lockdown was imposed after 47 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, including 32 from Mombasa and 11 from Nairobi, bringing the national caseload to 582.
Eastleigh and Old Town have been identified as COVID-19 hotspots due to the culture of communal living and the failure to observe social distancing.
According to sources, the infections in Eastleigh are being fueled by the culture of communal living and people's failure to observe and maintain social distancing.
Eastleigh has a high number of illegal immigrants, mainly from Somalia, who stay with their friends and relatives, making it difficult to control the movement of people in and out of the buildings.
Proper wearing of face masks also seems to be a challenge, with many people incorrectly wearing them under their noses.
Intelligence sources have ruled out the perceived influx of foreigners from Somalia for the current spike, saying the virus is largely concentrated in Mogadishu, which is over 1,000 kilometers away from the Kenyan border.
Consequently, the spike in infections in Eastleigh and Mombasa's Old Town are communal, and it is partly because of the Ramadhan period, during which people gather for prayers and breaking the fast.
One particular prayer, Taraweeh, has to be done communally for the entire month of fasting, which has contributed to the spread of the virus.
Despite the government's ban on social gatherings, effecting the ban has been a tall order, with many people continuing to disregard the measures put in place to control the virus.
Religious leaders have been accused of influencing the culture of disregarding the measures, with some hardline Imams intent on group prayers while dismissing the coronavirus.
However, some religious leaders have urged people to pray at home, citing compelling circumstances that make attendance at a place of congregation impractical.
