This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, Nakuru County in Kenya appears to be experiencing a decline in fear and anxiety about the disease.
Published on May 13, 2020, residents are expressing frustration with the economic impact of the pandemic, including the loss of income and the inability to transport produce to markets.
Peter Kimani, a cabbage farmer, stated that his produce is rotting in the farm due to a lack of buyers, with middlemen offering to purchase at low prices, claiming they are spending money bribing police officers.
Others have alleged that cabbages are no longer in demand, as traditional vegetables like managu and saggeti are now readily available due to heavy rainfall.
Callen Kemunto, a poultry farmer, claimed that the pandemic has negatively affected her business, as she has 500 mature broilers without a market to sell them to.
Julius Kimalit, a dairy farmer, stated that the demand for milk has dwindled due to increased production, resulting in losses and the need to sell his animals to butchers.
Residents are also expressing confusion and concern about the virus, with some questioning what it is and how it is spread.
Area Chief Peter Chege stated that the recent case of a 13-year-old boy testing positive for the virus has stunned residents, with many wondering why the boy was not taken to a quarantine center instead of being quarantined at home.
Dr. John Mburu, of Nakuru Level Five Hospital, explained that the results of the medical tests on the boy could be a false positive, and further tests were being carried out to confirm the case.
