Nairobians struggle to keep warm as cold weather bites

The Kenya Meteorological Department Director Dr David Gikungu had early warned that the month of July would mark the peak of the cold season over the Highlands East of the Rift Valley and Nairobi county – and he was right.

That prophecy has come to pass – and residents of Nairobi are ‘grudgingly’ enduring every minute of it.

According to some of the residents of Nairobi, high cost of living has greatly limited their choices when it comes to choosing which measures they need to take to mitigate the cold weather.

“I take a lot of tea whenever it is cold and chilly. That has had to change because sugar prices have increased making it impossible to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee in this cold,” says Maureen Wanjiru, a teacher in Nairobi.

Wanjiru says she has resorted to working out so as to help her body generate heat – and bring that comfort.

“I also try as much as possible to dress heavily in this cold weather,” she says – but adds that she often struggles to maintain a good sense of fashion because she has not been able to improve her wardrobe because her purse cannot allow.

She notes that it’s not easy to overhaul her wardrobe – and that of her three children – investing in warmer clothes because of her tight budget.

“I think most people are focused on surviving each day, and not comfort because of the tough economic times,” she adds.

As for mama Velma Mwinzi – she told Wananchi Reporting that she often finds herself eating a lot when it’s cold – which she says helps her body to generate heat.

“The body needs heat, but then I cannot eat as much as I would like because everything has become very expensive,” says Mwinzi who works in Westlands area of Nairobi.

“In the office it gets so cold because in Westlands where we are located is near the ‘highlands’,” she says.

Residents who work in the capital and live in areas like Limuru, Kabete, and Kikuyu have had to endure colder temperatures than their counterparts in Eastlands, which geographically is near Machakos County, which has relative warmer climate.

Meanwhile, parents with children in school have had to dress them appropriately – but which has cost implications.

The cool and chilly conditions are associated with cases of respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumonia, flu, and the common cold. It is therefore advisable to dress warmly and to follow the advice of health professionals. Individuals have, however, been warned against use of charcoal Jiko to heat their houses since they emit carbon monoxide gas which can be deadly if inhaled.