Thread by @jamessmat

Kenya has embarked on a dusk to dawn curfew to curb the spread of deadly coronavirus.

This particular restriction on normal life is abnormal for a particular group of people, we seldom think about.

This is a THREAD on what happens to STREET FAMILIES during this COVID-19 times

First, the basics. In normal times, the question of STREET CHILDREN is a gigantic 'problem' for Kenyan society, largely ignored, mistreated, and misunderstood. It's clear we don't know what to do with our STREET FAMILIES.

The magnitude of street families’ problems reveals as much as it hides in plain sight. There are an estimated 50,000 street children in Nairobi revealing failure of GOK constructing a state of SAFETY NETS. Here is what I found out, spending nights on the streets of Nairobi.

A group of boys between the ages of 9 and 14 are busy looking for dinner they tell me “The idea is to make 100 shillings per day” how you do that it’s a mixture of begging, helping women in the market carry goods, and clean up front spaces on shops in town.

You can never miss this group, they are the youngest and they stay close to each other for protection and they will retire early, for the same reason.

They were 'thrown into the streets' for many reasons, parents dying up-country, single parents unable to cater for the entire family, moved from slums in and around Nairobi in search of a better life.

“We sniff our glue to numb the pain and stop thinking about life, it’s of no use to think on the streets, you survive”

On the streets, you have to be part of an established order (gang), but not everyone can and is part of a gang. There are 'freelancers' These are those who for some reason can't be accommodated in some gang.

‘Karis’ street name, says he doesn’t think too much of COVID-19 “I know Tuberculosis, HIV, Malaria they have always been part of our life, so I just go about my business, as usual, we will meet with that diseases when we meet”

‘Mwendwa’ street name has been his entire life on the streets of Nairobi, “all I need every night is a small fire for warmth, morning comes we start all over again just like you guys (persons not of the streets)

I meet another freelancer, Michael, his is a life filled with words and creativity, he has lyrics he says and wants to do ‘collabo’ with some of Kenya’s music idols he admires. A song on CORONA is the offing for him, he has another on CORRUPTION, and another on LIFE and TIMES.

The “freelancers” are bottom of the food chain on the streets, I gather, as they are not part of a gang, therefore, they don’t have protection, which is the currency of the streets.

The talent and creativity of the streets come to life at night; night street dancers, aspiring musicians, and future music video producers occupy a deserted Nairobi

This group of older street kids tries to match their ambition to the country’s art industry.

“We are ready to be discovered by TV stations, radio stations, and the talent industry we have authentic and real content.” They tell me.

As the country worries about COVID-19, they have been let down so long they don't see a difference between this PANDEMIC and 'normal times'

“Shiro” SN.
Says she has books upon books of songs, waiting for an opportunity to produce some of her masterpieces.
“I am writing new lyrics nothing about CORONA it will pass I think without much drama, but my song about the truth of our country will remain, stay strong”

Why does she write, I ask, well she has ambitions she says and being a person living on the streets without care from the government she needs to believe in a GOOD FINAL end, that’s my TALENT, she says.

“Mturukana” Street name

“The best canvas you can ever have are the empty streets after everyone has gone home, so I practice here every evening my killer dance moves, I perfect my skill every night and by the time the world sees me I’ll be extremely good”

Mturukana's biggest ambition is to travel back home to TURKANA and get his national identity card. He says he gets mistaken a lot for a SOUTH SUDANESE (not good for him and his interaction with authorities)

Moha and Bosco are street dancers, they are part of a four-man team that has been dancing in Nairobi since they were children.

“The streets raised us we know it inside out and what we want is to make our name out of these streets of Nairobi.”

This dynamic duo has had a friendship since they were 9-year-old. They are brothers and they think they have figured out a way to get themselves out of the streets. Dancing.

When Nairobi goes to sleep, they take over the streets, they practice their moves, record videos on a smartphone and play protectors to the younger boys.

In all these, there are others who have the STREETS a home. Rough sleepers of Nairobi.

As #Kenya embarks on the curfew, these group of people's lives, far from ideal, now has been incredibly interrupted.

STREET FAMILIES live in perpetual fear of authorities, the system is never kind to them, as the global pandemic COVID-19 spreads without respecting borders and persons, one hopes our society remembers these people as part of our collective humanity.

Reporting inside communities continues.

Photo credits: KIZITO GAMBA

additional reporting @AfricaTazama