In my three-plus decades alive we’ve never witnessed whatever is going on around-globally. Coronavirus is breaking our nerves. Total and partial lock downs have turned into our new normal.
The entire world over is staring at glimpse figures of sickness and death
without clear remedies. Suddenly, we seem to have shifted back to the ages of helplessness – before penicillin and conventional surgery.
It’s scary with Coronavirus
Things we took for norms have vanished, leaving us in wonder, yet terrified. Hugs (rare kisses) and high-fiving in public has vanished. We’ve become too strange for each other.
Families are not getting the normal weekly meetings for those within
counties with total shut downs. No public travel into capitals- Only food and medications trucks are allowed past the roadblocks. No room for knee-jack travels.
No public gatherings. No drinking late into nights and clubbing. No going to church.
Herein Kenya, the first resounding warning came when all schools were ordered immediately closed- no room to wind up a few topics or anything. Just shut. Coronavirus was coming.
A look at elementary school shows lush green fields-play fields we’ve known for ages to be dusty or mowed- with heavy child-play. Tucked in the homes are the endless questions: “Papa, Mama- when are we going to school?” Children ask, unaware of the scary thoughts in their parents minds.
Kids miss friends and school mates. Young guys from urban spaces have been warned to mind their older parents back at their rural homes
Inside banking halls, you can feel the scare. One metre away! You can’t access your bank account – get a mask first! Sanitize! sanitize! Do not sit here keep the distance.
Cash is touted as one of the main culprit. So money is also contagious!
Cashiers everywhere are in surgical gloves- handling the bank notes.
Downtown – there’s no business as usual, Mondays through to Fridays. The only crowded place if the makeshift food market. Yes, our main market was shut and vendors shifted to a more spacious stadium.
It’s been weeks since I travelled from the Nairobi City. Our fourteen
passenger carriers shifted to 9 passengers- with us shouldering pay for the empty seat- Coronavirus was coming.
Aircrafts halted and packed relentlessly. Surely, it’s been weeks since I
ever woke up to airplanes whooping over the skyline at Menengai hill
We are watchful. The livid touts ever hold sanitizing agents. That’s the
case even when they viciously argue for customers their matatus. Social
distance, one metre away is s fact not known to them. When did people’s breath become venom? Of course unhygienic coughs are.
Yesterday, the government declared masks mandatory for everyone in public- with a Kenya Shillings 20,000 ($200) fine for flaunting that. The WHO had convinced us that Coronavirus is not an airborne infection. Take note, it is.
A Silent Easter
Yesterday was Good Friday. It’s so desolate in downtown Nakuru. There’s no music- except one vehicle that passed around mounted with a PA system sensitizing about Coronavirus.
Any times past seven in the night, to five in the morning are curfew hours. The glaring music of thriving economies have died away. Night-bars and clubs shut by government orders. By the way, food is only taken away at any eatery around. No idling to chew- Coronavirus is around.
Washing hands is the new norm. Sanitizers are for the well up financially. Medics advised us not to worry but wash hands with soap and flowing water. I love how Kenyans have come strict in this one- right into our villages.
Yapping politicians fear Coronavirus. The heated debates about every
political faction died away too. What a peaceful nation! Can we live forever like this-no useless hullaballoo, just silence, thinking development and taking action?
Our Prayer
God, we’ve not attended Easter mass as we should. You know why. You need us alive. Our bishops and a few clergy did that on our behalf. And, we still celebrate from the many memories of calm years we’ve been well all along.
God, we know that you are in control. As always, we make apologies for all our inequities, in the silences and solitude of our hearts- this Easter
weekend. In the words of our Savior, God, look not onto our sinfulness, but on our willingness to serve you best. And by it, be moved to forgive the entire world over.
In our past, we’ve sounded in honor and jubilation. Give us another chance, collectively. Our help comes from thee. We miss our past normal that we took for granted.
In faith, we pray, amen