Kenya: The Diary of a Medical Student - Plague Is Not a Sign of the Apocalypse

28 February 2015

When I first heard of the plague outbreak in Madagascar, aside from concern for the citizens of the island nation, the thought that entered my mind was: "Give it a few days or just a week and no doubt some pious citizen or self-proclaimed preacher or messenger - as some of them like to be called - will use this information to theorise the end of the world". And true enough, a few days later on a bus ride to the city centre, one such messenger stood up and began his 'ministrations', if we may call it that.

You see, it's just one of those things that we as Kenyans don't really approve of but they do not surprise us. If it's not a man selling 'chilled' water or sweets inside a bus, it's a woman with fruits outside the car window or a boy peddling his wares. And we have slowly mastered the art of ignoring the said business people. It's even worse when they claim to have been sent by a 'Higher Power' to deliver a 'message'. The most common is: "If you don't give me money to support 'His' work, 'He' will see your disobedience."

...

Tagged:

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.