What does COVID-19 in Kenya look like, and how is Global FICCS Responding?

The first COVID-19 case in Kenya was detected on March 13, 2021, which immediately resulted in measures to contain the spread of the virus. On March 15, schools were shut down, and all non-essential workers were directed to work from home if possible. Subsequently, international flights were suspended, and bars and restaurants were closed. A nationwide curfew of 7pm and lockdown was initiated on March 27, and, in early April, travel restrictions were established in the most affected areas, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Kwala Counties. The curfew, which was relaxed to 10pm in August 2020, was being enforced by police with fines and jail time. 

International variability in the response to COVID-19 is well known. Masks are worn commonly in Kenya, especially around Nairobi (as in urban centers in the US). All hospitality staff are well masked during interactions with clients. Testing in Kenya is expensive—$30-100 per test, which is the cost of monthly rent from some in Kenya. Those Kenyans who have been tested for COVID-19, often only do so at the behest of their employers. 

Overall, Kenya has 200x fewer reported positive COVID-19 deaths than the United States (1,700 vs 400,000).The cause of death is often marked as unknown and testing for COVID-19 at the morgue is rare and expensive ($50-100).

The majority of healthcare workers have access to simple blue masks and gloves, but limited access to N95  and KN95 masks, shields, and gowns. Costs of N95-type masks are steep, and healthcare trainees do not have the funds to cover this basic personal protective equipment (PPE). Private hospitals are well equipped with PPE, equal to US hospitals.

Concerns about vaccines in Kenya are similar to those in the United States. Conspiracy theories abound, including distrust of the government and risk of side effects. As the pandemic continues to evolve, basic PPE will be the foundation for the future unitil vaccines are readily available.

Founder of Global FICCS Dr. Parag Patel informally surveyed residents of both Kenya and the United States about their perception of the varied mortality rate in these vastly different populations and countries. Many US residents believe we are over-reporting positivity and deaths related to COVID-19, while many Kenyans believe under-reporting is the issue. Many US residents have friends or family known to be infected with COVID-19, and at least one individual who has died. While Kenyans report being aware of family or friends who have tested positive, they rarely know someone who has died due to COVID-19.

Global FICCS continues to learn and assist in small ways in Kenya. During the pandemic, we have educated health professionals on a novel mental health assessment, PPE, first aid, and CPR. PPE was distributed to frontline instructors, and a sustainable supply chain is being developed, and our partner Kenyan-based organizations received similar training and supplies. Training the community to be instructors, and supplying basic resources are vital to our mission and support the vision to empower, educate, and employ Kenyans.
The Impact of COVID-19 Measures on Under-Resourced Communities

While governmental policies such as curfews, social distancing, and closure of eateries, bars, and churches have helped curb the spread of the virus, early findings show that blanket containment measures have had a negative impact on access to livelihood for tens of thousands living in under-resourced informal settlements (often referred to as slums) across the country. Adhering to these measures have been near impossible for a variety of reasons and have impacted these communities in devastating ways, including: 

• inability to isolate and social distance due to crowded, single-room dwellings where a number of households share bathrooms, sinks, and water points;1

• limited to access to personal means of transport, leaving crowded public transportation and motorbikes (that sometimes carry up to three passengers) as the only option;

• little to no access to critical supplies that curb the spread of infection including sanitizer and disposable masks (which are often used for more than a week to avoid the wrath of law enforcers who are reportedly using violations of safety measures as a way to extort money, particularly from the poor;

• widespread joblessness due to closure of eateries and bars; and malnourishment and declining health, particularly among children who usually receive water, food, and other basic daily needs from school.

These are a few reasons that those living in these communities need differentiated containment measures that will not completely deny them access to food and livelihoods.

“Through this study, we have seen that about 90% of households in the slums reported dire food insecurity situations, and are not able to eat the kinds of foods they prefer such as indigenous vegetables and animal sourced foods like milk and eggs, which had been more affordable and accessible before the pandemic,” said Dr. Christine Chege, the lead researcher on the project told IPS. 

The Alliance provides research-based solutions to harness agricultural biodiversity and sustainably transform food systems to improve people’s lives in a climate crisis. Researchers instead recommend strategies and interventions to assist those living in these settlements to earn an income as a solution, first giving them economic empowerment in order to access nutritious foods.

In that regard, she observed that the government could cushion those living in these settlements by providing food vouchers, which can be redeemed from vendors who belong to structured platforms such as Twiga Foods, a company that is also participating in the ongoing study.