It will be an unusual ramadan, minor also for the Muslims of Kenya and in particular the many who live on the coast. For the month of religious purification of Muslims there will be no particular "extensions" to the curfew decided by the Kenyan government since last April 6.
This was announced yesterday by President Uhuru Kenyatta, comparing the sacred period of Mohammed's followers to Christian Easter.
"We have not made exceptions for the many Christians during Easter - said Kenyatta - and we will not make any for our Muslim friends. The emergency must unfortunately take precedence over all habits and we ask for a sacrifice also from the practitioners of every faith".
So from this morning onwards there will be fasting and solitary prayer for those who used to go to religious gatherings and mosques. Then at 6.30 a.m. Iftar will arrive, the moment of celebration of the end of the day of fasting that coincides with a meal, many specialties cooked in the kiosks, usually also in the premises (which today by decree only accept customers for take-away, but many are already closed for a long time) and then we pray all together, often spending the evening and the night outdoors, which from 7 a.m. will not be possible.
The communities, through the voices of the Imams and the many muezzins of the coast, seem to have received the message, which also comes from many politicians of Islamic faith such as the Governor of Mombasa County, Hassan Joho. Everyone in their own homes and even the daytime prayer moments in the open air must be conducted with respect for social distances of at least one meter and with masks on their faces. Also economically, for those who are used to selling all kinds of food, even imported ones such as dates and white turnips, it will certainly be a great damage.