As the sun shone brightly over Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach, Mombasa County, on Christmas Day, the joyous atmosphere took a distressing turn for 67 children who found themselves separated from their guardians in the midst of the beach festivities.

The beach, colloquially known as ‘Pirates,’ is a local hotspot that draws large crowds on weekends and public holidays, and Christmas was no exception.

The holiday season, especially in December, sees an influx of visitors from various regions, adding to the already bustling crowds.

As families reveled in beach fun, some children became lost, sparking a frantic search. Good Samaritans stepped in, helping the distressed children who struggled to locate their parents and guardians.

The Kenya Red Cross Mombasa Coordinator, Aisha Hussein, revealed that the children were gathered at the Kenya Red Cross surveillance booth, using a public address system to reconnect with their parents.

By evening, the distressing episode concluded on a positive note as all 67 children were successfully reunited with their families. Aisha Hussein emphasized the importance of parental vigilance, urging parents to ensure the safety of their children, especially in crowded places like the beach.

“This has been the trend every festive season, but we have a team trained in contact tracing. It’s within our mandate to look out for such cases and address the situation,” she added.

The final group of children found their families at 8 pm, just before the beach closed to the public. The beach, open from 6 am to 6 pm, is equipped with multi-agency emergency response officers to handle unforeseen circumstances.

With New Year festivities approaching, crowds on public beaches are expected to swell, prompting a heightened need for vigilance and safety measures.

The incident serves as a reminder for parents to take extra precautions during holiday celebrations, ensuring the well-being of their children in crowded environments.

As Nairobians begin a new week, it is evident that the chilly weather has left a few people on the streets of Nairobi.

Greetings have now shifted to ‘how are you doing in this chilly weather’ with others seen wrapped in heavy clothes as they cross the roads. But this is just a fraction of Nairobians.

Some have taken to Twitter to complain about the rain and yet it is already chilly with others confessing how the cold weather has kept them away from the shower for days.

As if the cold was not enough, the rains too have joined the competition in Nairobi. Watu wazaane.

— Koth wuon chiemo (@The_wakandah) July 12, 2021

This cold in Nairobi is unbearable!

— Denzin Ngala (@Denzinoh) July 12, 2021

Has it ever been this cold in Nairobi, ama I'm getting old?

— Mr. Muli (@MrD_Muli) July 12, 2021

This Nairobi weather is just disrespectful. As if it hasn’t been cold enough, it had to rain.

— Angela Oduor Lungati (@AngieNicoleOD) July 12, 2021

08:21 It's a wet misty morning from Kikuyu….. then u get traffic snarlup in2 Uthiru junction @motoristsoffice @NPSOfficial_KE pic.twitter.com/uPHDHIMyKl via @asunza

— Ma3Route (@Ma3Route) July 12, 2021

In Kenya, July is the coldest month of the year and according to the Kenya Meteorological Department, the cold season normally extends through the month of August and partly September.

Last Thursday, the Met weather forecast indicated that rainfall is expected in most parts of the country over the next five days.

The rain will be experienced in parts of Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Trans Nzoia, Baringo, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Nakuru, Narok, Kericho and Bomet.

The June-July-August season will be characterised by rainfall concentrated over the western region while the Coastal Strip and the rest of the country will remain generally dry.

But how can one survive the July weather?

Extra layer

In this case, you could add a heavy sweater probably one that has a turtle-neck, scarf or jacket on top of your outfit.

But if you are a lady you could also do a warm sweater and don it with a matching scarf to prevent the cold weather from hitting your chest.

If you are planning to leave the house, it is advised that you arm yourself with woollen scarves, gloves, warm socks and boots

Stay Dry

You need to invest in synthetic, wicker based layers that pull the sweat right off your skin.

During this period some people tend to sweat over wearing heavy layers. If you happen to get wet externally, get inside and dry off as soon as possible.

Food

This is not the time to eat cold food that you carried to the office or that you have bought in a supermarket.

Warm your food and eat it hot.

However, it is advised that you take more spicy food e.g the chilli peppers and spicy seasonings which contain a compound called capsaicin which increases the body temperature, creating a warming effect.

Water

This is the time to drink hot water all the time. If not hot then warm enough to keep your body steady and warm.

Stay active

Keep yourself as active as possible to boost your circulation. Move around the house if you are working at home at least once an hour and avoid sitting still for long periods.

Even light exercise will help keep you warm. When you do sit down, put your feet up as it’s coldest nearest the ground.

Heater

If the house is too cold you could invest in a heater and use it when needed.

If you don’t have a heater, don’t use a jiko in a closed room as inhaling carbon monoxide can lead to death.

Source: www.the-star.co.ke