As one of three BioCaf Sustainability Experts (the other two are the wonderful Umeko Motoyoshi & Sierra Wen Xin Yeo), I have been writing a series of essays and articles this year.
A few days before a particular virus was declared a pandemic, I had already been asked by BioCaf to write a short essay that considers what sustainability looks like in times of crisis. On March 12, the day I had allotted time to write this piece, the two co-owners of Point Zero Cafe here in Nairobi –Andrea Moora & Wangeci Gitobu — and I had planned to meet for coffee.
We met at the Tin Roof Cafe in Karen, and never did I imagine that would be the final time we would do something we all take for granted: go to a cafe & meet friends for coffee. The next day, on March 13, the first COVID-19 case was announced publicly in Kenya. The following week, restaurants, cafes, and bars started to close. Weeks later, many people started to wear masks in public places.
How grateful I am that we shared this time together, and how I anticipate when their cafe will reopen and we can all once again share time together. To read my essay, please click here.
P.S. The book on the table is the beautiful novel The Dragonfly Sea by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, my favourite Kenyan writer.
