Kenyans who are lucky to be alive as 2020 draws to a close

One popular meme that Kenyans identified with this year says: “I won’t add 2020 to my age because I didn’t use it”.

Others had, when coronavirus started spreading across the world, asked God to uninstall 2020 since it had been infected by a virus.

These jokes speak to not only wasted careers and life opportunities, but also outpouring tears for the loss of hundreds of loved ones due to Covid-19.

Then there were thousands of others who navigated the pandemic but still failed to make it to the end of the year.

While 2020 has been generally hard for individuals, companies and nations, some people had a brush with death at some point and are glad the 12 long months are coming to a close and grateful that they survived it.

Lifestyle interviewed a number of people who have nothing but gratitude that the episodes are behind them.

Raphael Tuju

Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju who survived a near fatal road accident on February 12 reflected on 2020 as one of the most difficult and challenging years to himself, Kenyans at large and the world.

The Cabinet Secretary without portfolio says he owes it all to God for being second time lucky, having survived a 2003 plane crash in Western Kenya in which a fellow minister, a passenger and two pilots died.

The Jubilee Secretary-General was involved in a road accident near Kijabe on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway as he was heading to the burial of former President Daniel Moi in Kabarak, Nakuru county.

“I suffered punctured lungs, 18 broken bones and crushed intestines, part of which had to be removed,” Mr Tuju told said.

The 61-year-old was taken to Kijabe Hospital and then Karen Hospital in Nairobi that afternoon.

Mr Tuju would be flown to the United Kingdom, where he remained for two Weeks.

“I am forever grateful to the team of doctors at Kijabe Mission Hospital, Karen Hospital and President Uhuru Kenyatta. Dr Dan Gikonyo even took the trouble of being part of the medical team in London,” he said.

The Jubilee secretary-general fought off fake news about his admission to the ICU and even death.

He is grateful to family members who took turns to be at his hospital bed.

“Many prayed for me, including a 90-year-old woman in Rarieda who spent several days at a shrine. God saw me through it all, just like the plane crash,” the former Rarieda MP said.

Mr Tuju says he feels sorry for families mourning their loved ones who died of coronavirus or other causes.

He says he has learnt to appreciate even the smallest of life privileges. The CS advises Kenyans to be grateful for what they have.

Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna

Colonel (rtd) Oguna had to be on the frontline as the country battled coronavirus. He was aware of the risks involved and took precautions to protect himself, family, friends and colleagues.

However, he still caught the respiratory illness in July and spent 30 days at Nairobi Hospital.

“I was not sure if I was still alive. It was like I was losing my mind. I convinced myself that if I were to die, let it happen as I try to stay alive,” he said.

About a week before his hospitalisation, Mr Oguna felt under the weather. Thinking it was fatigue and the cold July weather, he self-medicated as went on with his busy schedule.

“I was navigating a minefield of symptoms; low appetite, low-grade fever, muscle aches, burning sensation in the lower rib cage and mild headaches,” he said.

He did not cough or sneeze and had tested negative for coronavirus three times. He took a fourth test which turned positive.

Then the contact-tracing began. What Mr Oguna thought would be a 14 day-stay at the hospital was not to be.

“The storm struck that same night. I woke up with chest pains. Breathing was difficult. It was like a bayonet being driven into my chest,” he said.

His lungs had been severely compromised due to pneumonia. Mr Oguna was weak and depended heavily on oxygen.

“Days became long and nights even longer and quiet, only interrupted by the beeping of life support machines. Interaction was limited to healthcare workers donned in PPE,” he said.

He began to appreciate life’s privileges like interacting with family. Though his wife visited daily, a glass window separated them.

He was still restless and could neither taste nor smell anything after leaving hospital.

“There are moments I will never forget. The first is when I was unable to get out of the washroom. I lost all the energy and just sat there,” he said.

“It is scary because you cannot shout as there is no air in the lungs.”

The other thing Mr Oguna dreaded was getting pressed because of the pain it would take to get to the washrooms.

Ms Charity Muturi

While the pandemic made 2020 tough, it was more treacherous for people with Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs).

The World Health Organization said people battling hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, cancer and other conditions had a higher chance of dying from Covid-19.

Ms Charity Muturi’s story stands out since her family is battling six NCDs.

Ms Muturi is a mental health advocate and a bipolar patient while her mother manages hypertension and osteoarthritis – a back condition.

Her father has a heart problem, hypertension and hypothyroidism.

Ms Muturi says surviving such times while being in the most at risk category requires a strong bond.

“Our family understands the illnesses well enough to make them part of our lives,” she said.

While NCDs need a lifetime management and constant access to health services, many patients were thrown into a crisis as the government shifted focus on containing the pandemic.

When Ms Muturi missed her medication in May, she could not sleep the entire night. Amnesia is a side effect of skipping a dose.

“There are other drug brands but changing is not easy. Adjusting to a particular one can take up to four months,” she said.

“Anxiety is high in Kenyans but even higher among those battling epilepsy, dementia, autism, cerebral palsy, schizophrenia, bipolar and drug addiction. They can relapse with no access to medication.”

Despite the challenges, the pandemic provided a chance for her and other advocates to engage the government and international agencies on long-term management of NCDs, do more online peer support and create awareness.

“Covid-19 brought families and communities together. We had a chance to hold more meetings virtually,” she said.

Among their concerns is that the government sets aside only three per cent of the health budget for NCDs. This is despite the fact that, even before coronavirus, up to 60 per cent of hospital beds were occupied by NCD patients. The NCDs are the second killer in the country in terms of incidences to infectious diseases.

Nahshon Ng’wena

October is a month Mr Nahshon Ng’wena would wish to forget. He hired a 14-seater van for his family to use on the journey to his sister Mical Abongo’s funeral ceremony in Dol Kodera, Homa Bay County.

On the way back from the funeral, an accident claimed the lives of eight people, six from his family.

Mr Ng’wena’s wife, his sister Penian Awiti and two daughters – Mary and Laureen – died. Two more relatives died at hospital.

Months before Abong’o’s death, Mr Ng’wena had buried his mother.

He is slowly healing through spiritual nourishment and counselling.

“I asked God several times: ‘Why me?’. It was very scary. One minute we were happily talking in the vehicle. They had perished the next minute,” he said.

He often wondered why his family members had to die.

Despite the horrible experience, Mr Ng’wena says the tragedy has brought him closer to God as he prays more often.

“Life is very short. The accident has made me shift focus to God. It brought to the realisation that life can be taken away any time,” Mr Ng’wena said.

Apart from the tragic accident, Mr Ng’wena’s family has had to endure the hard economic times that came with job losses and bad business brought about by the pandemic.

But having eight funerals in a row is an experience Mr Ng’wena would never wish on anyone.

He is, however, grateful to friends, relatives, colleagues and well-wishers who helped him weather the storm.

“I have come to appreciate the Kenyan spirit of brotherhood. Everybody has felt the pinch of the pandemic but they were willing to contribute the little they had to support me settle the hospital and mortuary bills. I also received money for the funeral arrangements,” he said.

Mr Ng’wena hopes 2021 will come with healing and the country’s economy will pick up.

Reported By Anita Chepkoech, Justus Ochieng and Elizabeth Ojina