One of Malindi's best-known families was almost completely wiped out by the virus, which even in Kenya can sometimes be lethal. Three out of four brothers and their elderly mother died from Covid-19 in just under two weeks.
Mohamed, Seif and Mansur were also known by many Italians for being, together with Abdallah, the 'sons of Ali', one of the best mechanics in the town.
Three of them had taken up the same trade as their father, owner of the historic "Ali's Garage" on Kenyatta Road: Mohamed had had a workshop for years and like his father specialised in Land Rovers, Seif had specialised in bodywork and after a few years of working together with his brothers in the large garage on the road to the airport called 'Ali's sons', he opened his own workshop, while Mansur, after the death of his father, had created and successfully managed one of the most famous eateries in the centre, Jabreen Cafè, right where Ali's Garage used to be.
Mohamed was the first to fall seriously ill, followed by his elderly mother, Mama Kadhija, and then the carriage driver Seif and Mansur.
The pandemic emergency in Kenya is far from over.
On the coast, after months of reassuring data, in recent weeks there has been a worrying increase in the number of cases, combined with almost total laxity on the part of both the people to respect the restrictions and the authorities to monitor and carry out controls. This has led to an increase in the number of victims, which according to unofficial figures in and around Malindi is 19, including the Italian Rolando Canestrini.
The delay in the supply of vaccines does not allow optimism for the coming months, in which Covid-19 may join forces with influenza and other seasonal illnesses, partly because of falling temperatures.