This archive report was first published on 25 May 2020.
On May 25, 2020, Muslims in Nairobi observed Eid ul Fitr amidst COVID-19 containment regulations that prohibited congregational worship, a key aspect of the festival.
As part of the celebrations, many visited shopping malls to purchase food items and gifts, but some expressed frustration over the restrictions, which isolated them from family members and friends.
Abdi Farah, a resident of South B, noted that the outbreak of coronavirus in Kenya had forced them to break away from the norm of marking the festival with family and friends, as some were hindered by partial lockdowns in Mombasa and Eastleigh.
"We have celebrated our Ramadhan and Eid at home for the very first time and we also could not meet with some of our relatives who are locked up in Eastleigh," Farah said.
Mariam Wahid, a resident of Nairobi West, however, expressed support for the government's efforts to curb the disease, despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19 containment measures.
"Our first priority is keeping safe because after COVID-19 we can all meet and celebrate together rather than risking our lives," Wahid added.
Under the COVID-19 restrictions, gatherings were limited to a maximum of fifteen people, disrupting the traditional communal meals and open-air prayers that usually marked the end of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
