MITS KENYA UPDATE: 9/4/20

Here’s an update on the current situation in Kenya:  (NEW UPDATES IN ORANGE)

• As of today (Sep 3), 34,493 cases have been confirmed in the country of Kenya, there have been 581 confirmed deaths from the virus.  Total recoveries are 251.  The majority of active cases are in Nairobi and Mombasa.  The government is taking serious action and putting in steps to control the spread of COVID-19.  
• The cessation of movement order that barred entry into and out of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera counties lapsed on July 7th.
• On August 26 the GoK announced that the prohibition against social and political gatherings over 15 people is extended for an additional 30 days.
• There is a current cessation of movement in and out of the Eastleigh neighborhood in Nairobi and Old Town in Mombasa starting May 6th at 7 pm for 15 days. Markets and restaurants will also be closed, as well as a prohibition on all gatherings in these areas.
• A nighttime curfew has been imposed across all of Kenya – everyone must stay in from 9pm to 4am. This curfew has been extended until further notice..
• Places of worship may begin phased re-opening in conformity with applicable guidelines developed by the Inter-Faith Council. As outlined on July 6, guidelines mandate a maximum of one hundred (100) participants allowed at each worship ceremony and must not be more than one hour in duration. In-person worship shall not include congregants under age thirteen (13) years or over fifty-eight (58) or persons with underlying health conditions. Sunday schools and madrassas will remain suspended until further notice. The maximum number of persons permitted to attend funerals and weddings is reviewed upwards to 100, with all in attendance abiding with Ministry of Health Protocols.
• In addition, the government is encouraging employers to allow employees to work from home and for all Kenyans to follow WHO recommendations for social distancing. The president has encouraged all Kenyans to wear masks when leaving home. 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.
• International travel in and out of Kenya has been RE-OPENED - with some restricts and requirements for those entering from outside Kenya.
• Coronavirus is now impacting 47 African countries. There are over 1,000,000 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the African continent. Although Africa seems to have been spared from heavy impact of COVID-19, deaths on the continent have reached 22,300.

Since school has been suspended country-wide, MITS has taken the following steps to minimize exposure:

• Staff and students have been manufacturing protective facemarks.  These masks have been distributed to all students and staff at MITS, as well as some members of the community in Kamulu.
• ​In the short term, food scarcity continues to be a concern throughout Kenya.​
• Sunday worship service at Kamulu Church is still being broadcast on FaceBook live - Sunday service can been seen on Francis Mbuvi's personal FB page at: https://www.facebook.com/francis.mbuvi
• Students are staying in their dorms, except for minimal time outside for exercise.
• Students are not meeting as a large group for chapel each day, but rather meeting in very small groups in their dorms each morning for prayer, worship, and encouragement; 
• Students are not in classrooms at the Learning Center for daily instruction, but they are working on lessons independently and in small groups in their residences;
• Skills students are not attending skills training but working independently in the dorms.
• All students are staying within their respective residences. 
• Although other boarding schools across Kenya are shutting down and sending students home, MITS students do not have this option.  You can be assured that all students enrolled at MITS are being completely cared for on the MITS campus – arrangements have been made for MITS to continue full boarding and proper care of all students. Team members are buying food and supplies once a week.  Access to grocery stores is available each day – though social distancing is being enforced at stores.
• MITS final year students in Kamulu are still moving forward and on track to graduate on December 5 this year!
• MITS team members who live outside the MITS compound in Kamulu are working from home and only coming to the Skills Center when absolutely necessary.
• Visitors and volunteers are not allowed at the MITS compound at this time.     
• All MITS team members, families, and students are practicing social distancing; avoiding groups and gatherings of any size; washing and sanitizing their hands often; and washing their clothes and residences regularly; wearing masks and gloves when leaving home.
• MITS street team has been forced to suspend daily work with street boys and girls and temporally close the MITS drop-in center in Eastleigh as of Wednesday, March 18.  The team shared this news with the street boys and girls on Tuesday and is working with government authorities and other non-profits to help find services for the thousands of kids left uncared for and struggling on the streets.  As you can imagine, this suspension of services to street kids has taken an emotional toll on the team and the kids.
• The MITS street team has been able to handout food to street boys and to mothers for two hours each week at the MITS Eastliegh Center. The Eastleigh team continues to feed and serve approximately 50 street boys and 30 street mothers once a week at the Eastleigh Center.
  
• The Eastleigh Center has re-opened and feeding street kids daily. The number of street kids seeking food and care continues to grow due to the pandemic and connected economic crisis. 
• Students and staff have been educated on proper hand washing techniques and how to watch for and respond to symptoms of COVID-19 by our local medical professionals.  
• The team has put plans in place for stocking up on all essentials and will be making limited trips to the market for supplies each month. The have contingency plans in place to ensure adequate food and supplies for MITS students should country-wide shortages occur.
• The team is educating the students on this virus but also encouraging them and helping them feel safe. Most importantly, they are reminding them of God’s goodness and faithfulness in times of crisis and in times of peace.  They students remain in high spirits and are thankful for your thoughts, prayers, and encouragement.
• The leadership team is meeting several times a week to continue to monitor and make changes as needed to our plans.  
• All team members in Kenya and the students in Kamulu are staying safe and no cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Kamulu.
• MITS graduates in Nairobi are struggling to pay bills and rent due to the loss of jobs.  The majority of job loss in Nairobi is within the restaurant and salon industries - this is where most MITS graduates were working prior to the pandemic.
• MITS Into The World program continues to reach our to graduates and help many of them

​Regarding other issues:

• All foreign and domestic travel for MITS staff and volunteers has been suspended until further notice. 
• All gatherings and events through January 2021 in the US and Kenya have been postponed or canceled.
• MITS does not currently have any college interns serving in Kenya. MITS internships have been postponed until 2021.
• MITS does not currently have any mission trips on site in Kenya. All Mission Trips through December 2020 have been canceled.  Plans are underway to re-launch mission trips in 2021.  Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
• During these uncertain times, regular monthly giving and monthly sponsorships are critical for providing ongoing monthly expenses.  If you would like to use MITS’s online donation portal for your monthly support (rather than mailing checks), you can easily set that up here.
• Thank you to our amazing family, friends, and partners who continue to donate, support and encourage MITS during this challenging time! Keep Giving - Keep making a difference!
• ​Please continue praying for MITS students, staff, and kids who are still struggling to survive life on the streets of Kenya.