The covid-19 situation.

MARCH TO MARCH IMPACT OF COVID-19.

It's so amazing how covid -19 has snatched spaces and places that we thought were fully under human control. New rules have been put into place so that  the spread  of the disease is narrowed  even to zero. But this hasn't come so easily as it has turned  to denying  us our coveted freedoms and how we handle our daily lives. 

To start with, is the time we need  to spend to accomplish our days task since the introduction of curfew hours between 7 pm - 5a.m. No one would fathom that the streets would be so empty and quiet by 7. Only persons offering essential services;-

• Health care, public health, and human services.
• Law enforcement, public safety, and first responders.
• Food and agriculture.
• Energy.
• Water and wastewater.
• Transportation and logistics.
• Public works.

 But its also a positive gesture to many especially women and children as it has opened a chance of socialising with their dad's. House heads have been an elusive figure to most homes at this time of the day as many hang on to social places to kill time. Its time to get to know how moms deal with the family and whether this is an easy task.

On the other hand businesses have their rough share of the patch as bars,restaurants, cinema halls,public transport and other businesses that depend on night hours as their pick of sale have to remain closed.

This has a negative impact on families who depends on such jobs for their income. The labour market is highly stressed as the situation is affecting the casual labourers sector. With major markets of farm produce such as schools closing, regulated number of persons on the markets or point of sale and urban rural migration of  a considerable number of families, few farmers are ready to chip in their money in production and as such leading to loss of jobs in the agricultural sector.

But something unusual is happening; young school children are vending different food products such as vegetables, green maize(corn),different kinds of fruits in the center and homes to make the ends meet. Probably as a result of their parents being rendered jobless and as many people would sympathise and buy from them. This is not simple as  it predisposes them to the deadly virus and they have to adhere to the strict protocols of the ministry of health and hide from authorities to avoid arrest.

Notwithstanding, people have had their good and bad share of adopting to a new normal. Many are following the guidelines stipulated by the ministry of health. While same have paid the the price of ignorance and negligence. Police officers aren't hesitant to arrest noncompliance of covid-19 rules;not wearing a mask in public place, forbidden social gatherings and being out during curfew hours will cost you time and money.

Easing restrictions

With the partial reopening of various sectors to avoid economy clash our lives have been ushered to a new normal. Partial school reopening to some levels of education Will test the rate of infection in schools. The good thing is that it hasn't shown any danger. Travel ease is a concern especially with the opening of Nairobi and other areas that have been under lockdown as citizens fear movement of people may help the spread.

And now December holidays and all the fun of meet-ups. Anxiety is less than what was at the beginning of the year but restrictions are still holding partying. Well, we all know that January things are set go as usual with regard to the nation opening for  economic growth. 

2020 ends as a tough year that has disrupted many lives.

How Lucky that I have seen 2021! Its so amazing. Life seems to be so much normal than one would anticipate.  Curfew starts at 10pm to 4am,so there is ample time for one to accomplish subtle number of deals.

Wearing of masks is a matter of self safeguard to the disease. They are very cheap compared to what was mid last year but I can see too that the local populace has a bit lowered the guard. May be because of late i haven't heard or seen a case locally related to covid. Doesn't mean that I have to see or hear so as to wear my guard,but that this disease requires me to enter a new normal; alert,keen and cautious on everything I do.

I know the world over many have lost their lives;families wiped out,close and dear ones are no more...it's a sad story to tell. I sympathise with each an everyone who has been touched.

Don't let yourself become a statistic, wear a mask, wash your hand regularly and avoid unnecessary travel and crowded areas. This simple measures will help protect you and loved ones from contracting covid- 19.

Keep safe, it's not for granted.

THE STREETS OF SUBUKIA TODAY

 

STREET REVAMPS.

The situation as it was before and at the beginning of construction.

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HEIGHTENED INSECURITY

At the end of the 90's and early 2000's,robberies with violence from armed gangsters increased to a high level that every sunset ushered to a nightmare to the residents of Subukia. This led to an uprising whereby community members formed vigilante groups to guard their areas of residence and staged demonstrations accusing the police for not offering adequate security to its people.

The above photos show angry residents block the Nakuru Nyahururu road at Subukia centre pressing the government to improve area security in the year 2002.

Two years later, another demonstration was carried after deaths and injuries succumbed to a number of people in their homes as a result of gun shots from armed robber's.

From this photo, the then member of Parliament Koigi WA Wamwere address the angry mob on the way forward the government was to bundle insecurity in Subukia area. He promised establishment of police posts in all areas far from the trading centre which later proved to be fruitful.

Tuberculosis vaccination compaign,1972.

A team of health officers pose for a photo before commencing on a vaccination trail from Mbogoi-ini to Bahati area being led by renowned Amref international flying doctors service and cofounder Dr. Anne Sporrey at Subukia primary school playground in the year,1972.

The Earliest Dispensary in Subukia

Mr Daniel Ngugi directs me to the building that was the earliest dispensary in Subukia location seen from the above photos.

Was a great respite to the villagers who worked at Aubrey's farm and the nearby settlement schemes,as the nearest health facility from this was fifty kilometers away in Nakuru.
The road to travel was rugged and through forested areas inhabited by wild animals and was done by walking.
Seeing the plight of his workers, William Aubrey established a dispensary in 1945, of which he offered medical supplies to run the facility.

Engraved writing on the wall showing the date when this building was completed.

Esther Wairimu, a woman who hailed and had gained her experience in midwifery in Nyeri, became the first and only matron of the dispensary.
She served alone from 8th February 1945  until 1972.
Around 1964, after Kenya gained its independence, the dispensary was handed over to the then established church; The church of scotland to run. It served purpose until 1969 when the church became unable to manage the facility. By this time,the ruling government had established a new facility at the mushrooming Subukia centre. The place currently acts as Subukia sub-county M.O.H. health office.

Forest hill secondary school entrance. The old dispensary building is a few metres back on the opposite side of the road.

SUBUKIA SPORTS CLUB

Established in 1948 at what was Pedro's farm of which today is Kamumo farm.
The club housed a bartender, a tennis court,golf course and a restaurant that served different European cuisines. It's ambience is said to have been of prestigious beauty from the pool of waters with fountains and the tropical breeze that brew from the hillside.
Amongst the prominent persons who visited this place is Sir Philip Mitchell the colonial governor to Kenya and many white settlers who lived within Nakuru area to as far as Nanyuki.

The club as seen from the entry road.

Inside,the club was adorned with artifact collections from all over Africa. This precious items were stolen after the colonialists left.
The glory and the spirit of the place then was robbed. Today the building facility and the entire compound is in the hands of the Baptist Church of Kenya.

What used to be the golf course; today is a maize field.

The tennis court which today acts as a cow shed.

A servants quota.

Visible destruction over the years.

From right: Blog owner,Hezron Mwai and Stanley Ngugi; the man has seen and visited the club in it's heydays.

THE WHITE SETTLERS OF SUBUKIA

William.B.Aubrey.

Is said to be the earliest White settler at Subukia at an area called Forest Hill in the year 1925. He was English by birth of the Anglo Saxon origin and his father was a landlord of many houses in the city of london.His settlement led to the establishment of a small African village with majority being Kikuyu who were labourers of his farm.

Aubrey practiced large scale farming in coffee, wheat and dairy production. To manage this farm,He employed Reuben Gathii Wairagu an educated Christian male who hailed from Ihithe village in nyeri.

Reuben saw his education at Tumutumu mission schools.

During his tenure as a farm manager, he established informal education to the willing adult and young Africans in one of the farmyard houses during the evenings after work,whereby he taught them reading,writing and elementary mathematics.

In 1926, an adobe classroom was built to cater the increasingly number of learners from Forest hill village. This became the first and earliest primary school in Subukia known today as Kamumo primary school.

Aubrey also concented the class to be used as a church by the converts made by Reuben from the African faith and belief of the Kikuyu to the Christian faith. The teachings were based from doctrine of the Church of Scotland.

This first congregation was called 'kanitha WA gikuyu' meaning the Kikuyu church as the faithfuls were from the Kikuyu community.

He also established and offered medical supplies to a dispensary for the community around, which became the earliest healthcare center in 1945.

Aubrey at his entire life at Forest hill was not with her wife as it is said that she had passed on long before he settled here. Cynthia Mary Aubrey is known to be the only daughter of William Aubrey and was married to Mr Condon. After the death of her father in 1948,they resided at their father's home( Forest hill) until 1974 and later left for Karen area in Nairobi.

Cynthia died in1997 aged 85 years.

The earliest dispensary

The remains of his residence

The car garage

Part of Subukia centre 1995

 Much of the Morro coffee estate had not been destroyed and KANU street is seen with few buildings.The eastern hills forest cover had slightly been affected. 

    

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Subukia centre, 1972.

Image showing how Subukia centre was in the year 1972. The photograph was taken from morro hill.
Visible details include:-  Subukia primary school old office and the asbestos classes, kianoe cattle dip,the then dispensary which currently is council office, kihara's building, Gathukumi's holdings and the thick tree canopy of Morro farm coffee estate.
This photo was taken by a Japanese tourist by the name Kanagawala; a friend to Christopher Njoroge aka Mdosi.