“Should I Report To Work or Not?” Kenyans Speak Out On The Saba Saba Dilemma

“Should I Report To Work or Not?” Kenyans Speak Out On The Saba Saba Dilemma

By Florence Mukunya,

You bet there’s a good number of Kenyans who would do anything for a holiday. It’s our Kenyan thing, we love holidays because it’s when we get to do things we miss out on throughout the week or we just want to move where the action is packed says for example drive all the way to Machakos for Masaku 7s.

Today on my way to work I overheard two people conversing on whether they will report to work on Monday the 7th. And it’s not just them, everyone seems to be asking whether people should report to work on Monday, you know ‘saba saba’ day?

If you haven’t asked the question it’s probably in your mind as we speak.

Maureen Mwanzia started working last month and she is concerned about the saba saba issues, she doesn’t know how to ask her boss whether she should report to work or not as she is still new and fears that her boss might think she just wants a day off work. So, like many others she has opted to keep silent and watch out for what happens on that day.

I went on a random search for people’s opinion on reporting to work on the 7th of July which happens to be on a Monday the day most Kenyans dread going to work.

Sarah Odhiambo feels that for security reasons people should not report to work on Monday. “I have seen the uproar the saba saba issue is causing on social media and to speak the truth am fearing for my safety, that’s my main reason why we should not go to work, but then again it’s a good break I would use it to follow the news in the comfort of my house.” Sarah says.

Ms Odhiambo is not alone in this trail of thought, her friend Loise Nding’uri who stands close by says that people should stay in the safety of our houses until around afternoon to weigh on the security issues, I asked if she would report to work in the afternoon if the security matter turned alright .

“I would be willing but what’s the use, half a day is already gone, and if I went to work my colleagues and I would probably talk about the unfolding events of the day the whole time we are there and not end up doing any work.” Ms. Nding’uri says.

Some of the people I encountered with are seriously focused on turning the economic wheel of the nation and are quick to dismiss the saba saba issue saying ‘kelele ya chura haimzuii ngombe kunywa maji’ a popular Swahili saying. Mr. Peter Wanyonyi shares these sentiments.

“People should go to work as usual; not going to work is just an excuse and anyway 7th of July will come to pass and so by not reporting to our places of work we will just be slowing down the Kenyan economy.”

Speaking to Naomi Malika, hers is a normal working day. She has not even once thought about the ‘holiday’ in every one’s mind. “I will open my salon at 9:am as usual, this is where I get school fees ,food and other needs for my family, some of those… in fact all of those calling on people not report to work are already well off, what happens after Monday the 7th? Will we go ask them for money to buy our families food?”

“I would like to ask Kenyans to think beyond the saba saba and do what is right by the country which is building this nation.” She adds.

Well to work or not to work? What’s your take and what is your reason?

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