Covid-19 Stigmatization & Dukas

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, Dukas in Kenya have been trying to cope with the changes that came with the disease. In the beginning, I observed most of Dukas in our project implemented the precautions as advised by the Ministry of Health; shop keepers wore masks, put water and soap for customers to wash hands, and some insisted on social distancing at the counter. However, as time went by, most shops became more and more lenient towards Covid-19. Fewer beneficiaries have water and soap at their shops, and more are not wearing face masks and are not observing social distancing.

Covid-19 is spreading fast, and is now at our front doors. There doesn’t seem to be a day without a rise in the number of new infections per day. However, most Kenyans are fearing the virus less every day. The popular opinion is that the government is exaggerating the number of infections to justify the use of western donations. Is this true? Well, this can only be left to speculations.

For those who have witnessed Covid-19 deaths, the danger is real. While collecting routine data, one Duka owner was particularly worried. The owners of a business next to hers contracted Covid-19. What’s worse is that one of that family’s members succumbed to the virus. Soon after, health officials went to their business premises and disinfected it and everyone who was known to have close interactions with the family was quarantined.

The health officials allowed our participant to continue opening her business after establishing that she had no interactions with the “infected” family. Nevertheless, since the incident, she has recorded a massive reduction in sales. Almost all her customers are going to other shops, fearing infection.  Most of the people who used to be very warm with her are now choosing to greet her by waving hands. Due to this, she opted to close her business for two days. Her case is not an isolated case. Reports emerge everyday of people being stigmatized for being suspected to have contracted the virus. Some of the people stigmatized have not being as strong. For instance, a woman in Mai Mahiu committed suicide after she was accused of having contracted Covid-19.

Duka owners are arguably the business people who have the most contact with their customers. They are also the backbone of our economy. The effects of stigma and discrimination cannot be taken lightly. If unchecked, it has a potential of harming the economy.