Political Polarization and Public Health Compliance During Pandemic: A Nairobi Case Study
Overview
This reflective piece documents observations from Nairobi during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining how political campaigns and economic pressures undermine public health compliance measures. The author argues that citizens prioritize immediate economic survival and are influenced by political mobilization over adherence to pandemic protocols.
What this reflection paper covers
- Initial observations of congested shopping centers and public indifference to pandemic risks
- Discussion of curfew effectiveness and political leaders' role in spreading the virus through campaign rallies
- Public transport conditions and interviews revealing economic desperation and political incentivization as drivers of non-compliance
Preview
Letter from Nairobi
The city avenues were congested as people flocked shopping centers with bright optimistic faces. It is an unusual thing to behold as global reports indicate how coronavirus is killing many and devastating economies. As I meander through the crowds, I wonder whether people care about their health and loved ones. I’m lost in thoughts. I asked the cab driver to drop me in Westlands, a sprawling commercial high-end suburb 3 kilometers from the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD), for numerous business errands.
On this Thursday, one of the associates I was meeting asked, “Is the curfew still useful?” I was meeting him for the first time, but it seems, we had similar concerns about the nation. Since the first coronavirus case was recorded, the country has been under a night time curfew between 10 pm to 4 am as part of the measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.
As I jostled to get back home after a series of meeting and other engagements in Westlands, my acquaintance struck a conversation about the virus spread and the effectiveness of the mitigatory measures, especially with reports of the new variant of the virus within the country. “I don’t think the curfew is useful at all. It should be removed,” he said.
His argument — which has been popular in the public — is that people are exhausted with the curfew, and many night businesses are closing down.