Use this moment to share, care for others

Bondeni area in Mombasa county where the first coronavirus case was reported. [Kelvin Karani]

Those involved in the gambling and betting industry know the nightmare and anxiety of numbers. One hangs on to the numbers hoping to somehow control the outcome. In the last three months, the world has been glued to the daily numbers of the coronavirus statistics.

Like a daily lottery draw, we await these statistics to see how many deaths, which country had the most, what is the increase in infections, which country has overtaken another… and the worst of it is that slowly, we are getting accustomed to death, to the immense numbers!

It is like gambling or guess-game of the number of deaths, only that you cannot win or lose. It no longer shocks us that 2,000 people died in a single day in the USA, or that Italy buried 600 corona victims in a single day; or that the total world infections have tripled in barely three weeks to over 3.5 million. We so easily banalise death and trivialise this pandemic. Add to it the shenanigans of “racism” and “conspiracy theories”.

Presentation of cold statistics can easily translate to a heartless declaration of facts. Intellectual discussions and elite speeches only 'conceal' the real extent and gravity of the human calamity we are witnessing. It is very difficult to imagine 1,000 deaths in a day.

In order to save lives, uncomfortable and inconvenient measures are necessary. But this requires a smart engagement with citizens to change their behaviour. But Kenyans are a special breed. We find reasons and shortcuts not to comply. It is business as usual until a relative's dead body is in front of your eyes. That is when an ordinary Kenyan will start decrying the illness and blaming everyone else. “Expediency of the moment” holds us Kenyans hostage, from thinking beyond a few days, nay, a few coins ahead.

We seem held in a hypnotic trance that makes us blind to real dangers, and unable to read real lives and names in these statistics. We dare death, and pride ourselves of it. Must we wait till half of our newspapers are filled with death announcements? It is time that religious and civil leaders, village elders and businessfolk muster all we have; to shout and convince our dear Kenyan sisters and brothers that we are in this together and must keep the monster at bay. This means making a sacrifice of income, business, freedom and even hunger.

But while this is true for many citizens, the unscrupulous – usual suspects – have taken the opportunity as a lottery. It is ever more difficult to wage an aggressive fight against the Covid-19 because the 'greed virus' gives it a huge head-start. Bribery from 'quarantine', use of ambulances to transport drunken children of the 'mighty', special fares across police road blocks, recycled face masks, overpriced water-tanks and unreceipted payments at quarantine centres.

Still within the Easter season, I restate the appeal to conscience as we face this strife. How we pray the risen Christ can cure the virus of greed that makes us so blind that even in the face of death, we still want to strip the poor of the little, or to instrumentalise the calamity. Death for us in Kenya is almost a business, and a political opportunity. We thrive in the polemics of calamity and death, not in life. The risen Christ is life. We should work for life! Before we even solve the threat of death at our doorstep, people have the courage to mock those suffering.

Meat portion

What has hardened the hearts of Kenyans? A don’t-care attitude prevails, where the misery of others – even Covid-19 – is a spectacle to 'watch', and 'food' for village gossip and political rhetoric. Until one experiences hunger for a day or two or the boda boda rider's story of anguish, eagerly waiting for government support cannot register. When assured of a good balanced meal, it is difficult to know the longings of 'a meal'.

For us all, this special Easter must be a moment to share and care: Give one tunic if you have two, one lunch if you have two, a waiver to your tenants, forgo part of your salary, forgo half your savings, give the fuel money saved to a house-help, have half your meat portion to give to the needy, but without cameras. We need not broadcast our philanthropy. Politics must die in face of the suffering of a brother or sister. Help, without helping yourselves.

Christ is risen! His joy must make us smile and give the gift of smiles abundantly, not pessimism. Can we learn to love again? Can we truly help our brother without personal interest? Can we become our brother’s keeper once again?

Covid-19 is not just statistics or lottery. It is about your sister’s and brother’s life. Wake up and strike this monster.

Muheria is the Catholic Archbishop of Nyeri