This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
It's been three months since the pandemic struck, and Nairobi is slowly but surely returning to normal. The city centre is bustling with activity, with most shops open and traffic lights functioning as usual. However, a closer look reveals that not everyone is adhering to the health guidelines.
At the Khoja roundabout bus terminal, bodaboda riders are lining up in every exit, with only a handful wearing face masks. The rest prefer to have their chins and beards wear them, a stark contrast to the government's health guidelines. A visibly exhausted traffic police officer yawns as he lazily waves at motorists to drive on, while across the street, motorists are struggling to find parking space.
Most streets in the city centre are busy, with Tom Mboya Street and Moi Avenue as crowded as they were before the pandemic. However, some markets like Wangige in Kiambu County, which supplies Nairobi with eggs and vegetables, are still operating without social distancing. Traders sit next to one another selling their wares undisturbed by the coronavirus threat.
Hotels like Ole Sereni are introducing social distancing conferencing, with seats about two metres apart in all directions.
