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Sam's Place Foundation Reports on Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Our Deaf Children and General Conditions Around Sam's Place
Simeon Ongiri reported in three recent telephone meetings that our children were well and that conditions at Sam's Place and the surrounding area is much the same as we are experiencing here in the United States. Closures, stay at home orders, self-quarantine, and social distancing is taking place across the nation in Kenya. You will find more details from Simeon's report in this story below. Quite frankly, those of us in the Foundation and in Willis Missions are heartened to hear that these steps are being taken and that the Kenyan Government is taking steps to join the international effort to control the spread of the disease. The fact that Sam's Place is in the far western bush country so far away from large populations elsewhere in Kenya, gives our deaf children, faculty and staff an added measure of safety and isolation. More specific details follow below.
We received this notice from the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi late this morning. Kenya is following suit of other nations as they try to isolate the people of Kenya and limit the possibility of the spread of the Coronavirus from outside Kenya.
U.S. EMBASSY NAIROBI
Recent Government of Kenya Actions and Conditions in Kenya:
Country-Specific Information: As of June 21, 2020 there are 4,738 confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout Kenya, with 1,607 recovered patients and 123 related deaths.
On June 6 the GoK announced that movement restrictions in and out of Nairobi’s Eastleigh neighborhood and Mombasa’s Old Town neighborhood lapse as of 4:00 am, June 7. Movement restrictions into both Kilifi and Kwale counties also lapse as of 4:00 am, June 7.
On June 6 it was announced that nightly quarantine hours are revised to 9:00 pm to 4:00 am, effective the morning of June 7. Those violating the curfew may be arrested and put in mandatory quarantine for 14 days. Those taken into government quarantine will not be charged a fee for their stay at the facility.
Public gatherings are prohibited. On June 6, the GoK stated that protocols regarding re-opening places of worship will be devised “in the next seven days.” The same June 6 announcement stated that the ban on political and social gatherings, to include bars, is extended for an additional 30 days.
Persons visiting a supermarket or any open-air market are required to wear a protective mask that covers the mouth and nose. Users of public or private transport are also required to wear a protective mask.
On June 6, movement restrictions in and out of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Mombasa and Mandera were extended an additional 30 days. On May 16th, movement restrictions were imposed into and out of Kenya through the Kenyan-Tanzania and Kenyan-Somali international borders, with exceptions for cargo vehicles.
On March 25th, the Government of Kenya suspended all international flights in and out of Kenya. On May 11th, the GoK extended the ban on commercial flights, with the exception of fights arriving to evacuate foreign nationals. On June 6, the GoK announced that the Kenyan Ministry of Transport will develop protocols to reinstate domestic air travel.
Conditions on the Ground at Sam's Place
Dr. Vernon L. Williams and Director Simeon Ongiri met again today by telephone to discuss what the situation was on the ground at Sam's Place and the surrounding areas in Western Kenya. Last month, on behalf of Willis Missions, Williams directed Simeon to close Sam's Place to all visitors, Kenyan and to any international visitors who might arrive at the gate. Much of this action has already been accomplished by Simeon due to Kenyan governmental directives that he has received. This order is effective until further notice. Simeon reported on his actions over the last 20 to 30 days, regarding the children and our staff who work on our campus.
Simeon Ongiri: Things are not good in Kenya due to this deadly coronavirus. but we believe God has a sure way for us to get us back to normal. We at Sam’s Place are trying as much as possible to self-quarantine and observe the directives from the Health Department and the President of Kenya. They are good measures, only if the whole country will be responsible and comply with the help of our God, then we will be good. On Monday, March 16th, I advised teachers, any staff who operate from outside, to stay back in their homes, I suspended all visitors from gaining access into the campus. At first I did not want children to leave the campus until I started receiving stern warnings from the government via the Children’s Department. Then several guardians came, but we did not let them in. I had them wash their hands at the gate and sanitized them, and then let them take the children to their village. Before we released the children, we advised them to conduct themselves well while they are in the village. We also talked to the guardians to watch them carefully and to comply with all the government's directives to prevent the spread of the virus. On Wednesday, March 18th, I travelled to St. Josephs Trade School and brought home all five-students who are in advanced training there. Thirty-six children are back in their village with guardians, but we still have eight children here at Sam's Place, two watchmen, two cooks, two house parents, myself, my wife and two sons. We are all self-quarantined.
Simeon Update, June 21: I wanted to begin to bring some of our children back to Sam's Place so I went to the Children's Office in Rongo, and they said no. I have been taking food to the guardian families for use for our child there and the guardian family members. I have been taking the food plus salt which they all need. All but two of our children are healthy, with the exception of two whom I will be taking to the doctor this week for minor things. Our staff continues on as before, and we are waiting for things to improve across Kenya.
Williams reports that "teachers and staff continue to be paid their monthly compensation and funds in support of our children have continued to be sent via bank wire. So despite the shutdown and interruptions due to the Pandemic, none of our staff have suffered from financial loss. The lifeline from Texas to Sam's Place is strong and continuing without interruption.
Here are a few photographs of our children who are temporarily living away from Sam's Place, by order of the Kenya Government. They are doing well. Simeon spends much of his time looking after them and inspecting conditions in each village and guardian home. The children are looking forward to returning to Sam's Place and to school.
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