The Social Behaviour Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Kenyans

A global pandemic isn’t something that happens every day. The COVID-19 pandemic caught all of us by surprise and because it was so unprecedented, we all have had to make big changes in our lives. There has definitely been an effect on the social behaviour of Kenyans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Kenya, the pandemic became a reality on 12th March 2020 when the Cabinet Secretary of Health, Mutahi Kagwe,  announced the first case of COVID-19 in Kenya. I remember the fear and the confusion as we had no idea what to expect.

It was a week to my birthday and Kenya was now under curfew and we were all afraid of a virus that had made its way around the world and led to the deaths of so many. Curfew was swiftly followed by quarantine of those travelling back into the country or found to be infected and then closure of schools and lockdown.

The effects of the pandemic are still being felt especially as curfew in Kenya is still a reality. These are some of the ways Kenyans were affected.

Going Online

The pandemic meant schools, places of worship and a number of places of work were closed. This meant that virtual learning and business meetings as well as online services, became the norm.

It of course meant that children from disadvantaged families could not access lessons and were left behind. It also proved that a lot of jobs could be done remotely.

Social gatherings such as baby showers, weekend parties, birthdays and weddings were held online on platforms like Zoom. Unfortunately, this meant that even funerals were held online as numbers of those who could physically attend were very few.

As much as people were able to interact socially online, it still couldn’t replace physical interaction especially with painful things like funerals that require grieving together and saying a proper goodbye to loved ones.

Another thing that went online and was innovative, was events. The music industry was one of the most affected industries as shows were cancelled due to the enforcement of social distancing guidelines. Live performances were the bread and butter of so many artistes and suppliers and this hit them hard.

The music industry as well as adjacent industries that rely on events, went online. There were some amazing virtual shows that sustained innovative artistes. 

Online businesses also thrived during this time, and businesses that weren’t online scrambled to get online to benefit from the boom. Personally, I’ve gotten so used to online shopping that I don’t even remember the last time I stepped into a supermarket.

Going Out

Restaurants, clubs and bars suffered huge losses during the pandemic. From curfew limiting operating hours to social distancing guidelines limiting the number of patrons, business has been difficult for the sector.

At some point, bars were completely closed and restaurants couldn’t sell alcohol. From social media, some Kenyans started opting for house parties and because of curfew, day drinking has been on the rise.

Restrictions on restaurants and bars have eased up, though curfew is still in place. Some establishments have been able to get going again, while others have unfortunately, closed down.

Financial Insecurity

The lockdown and curfew meant losses for a lot of businesses. With transport grounded especially air transport, day to day business was severely affected. Downsizing, layoffs and even business closures, has become the new normal.

A lot of Kenyans have been forced to take a pay cut or been laid off altogether. This has meant they’ve had to downsize in terms of houses or sell off assets to survive.

The economy especially in industries like events, travel and hospitality will take a long time to fully recover even as things begin to open up.

Health Challenges

Other than COVID-19, Kenyans have been getting unwell from other things. Unfortunately, due to the fear of COVID-19, hospital visits dropped as the majority of Kenyans opted to treat their illnesses with home remedies.

With all the social restrictions and economic downturn, mental health issues have affected more people as they struggle to get through the pandemic.

On the positive side though, the constant hand washing and wearing of masks has meant better health for all as people report less stomach issues and flu.

Going Cashless 

Mobile money platforms and banks launched various initiatives to help Kenyans pay for things and move money through digital means. At the start of the pandemic, Safaricom for instance zero rated cash transfers under Ksh. 1,000.

Transfers from banks to mobile money and vice versa were also zero rated. Due to an initiative by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) this measure will stay which is a relief for many Kenyans.

Travel

Businesses on the other hand took the opportunity to encourage customers to pay through cashless platforms.

Travel was hugely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Flights to and within Kenya were stopped by the Kenyan Government in April last year in order to curb the spread of the virus. There was also a lockdown in certain parts of the country that limited inter-county travel in Kenya.

Flights resumed in July, for local flights, and in August, for International ones. Travel, when restrictions were lifted, within the country exploded with many Kenyans travelling to many destinations including Maasai Mara, Mombasa and Kisumu. International travel has also successfully restarted with the main conditions for leaving and entering being the lack of symptoms and a negative COVID-19 test.

All in all, the pandemic has affected us all in many ways and we will most likely be dealing with these effects for years to come.