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FIRST WORD Contact Marketing Africa limited P. O. Box 36481- 00200, 3rd Floor, Northstar Building, Lenana Road, Kilimani. Cell: +254 - 717 - 529 052 Email: [email protected] NAIROBI - KENYA Marketing Africa Team William Kalombo, Mutua Mutua, Riapius Magoma, Allan Muraya, Fred Ombati Editorial Contributors Mutua Mutua Herman Githinji Janet Sudi Irene Mbonge Diana Obath Tom Simba Dr. Wale Akinyemi Prof. Alfred Omenya Robert Wamai Richard Wanjohi Eugene Wanekeya David Mugun Carolyne Gathuru Marion Wakahe Pauline Warui Wasilwa Miriongi Dr. Maureen Owiti Mukui Mbindyo Valerie Ambetsa Thrity Engineer-Mbuthia Senorine Wasike Nicholas Gachara Dr. Catherine Ngahu Walter Nyabundi Dr. Clifford Ferguson Vincent Oduor Katya Nyangi Denis Mbau Joe Nyutu Dr. Kellen Kiambati Marketing Africa Magazine is published by Marketing Africa Limited. Views expressed in the articles and contributions are not neccessarily those of the publisher. The Publisher reserves all rights. Material may only be reproduced with prior arrangement and due acknowledgement to Marketing Africa Magazine. Feedback E: [email protected] W: www.marketingafrica.co.ke @MarketingAfrica Marketing Africa On The Thomas We know that the human being is a social animal but we tend to forget that that social cooperation was a prerequisite to the species survival as the human progressively dominated a hostile and dangerous environment that was the jungle. So from time immemorial the worst punishment that could be meted out by a group was to withdraw the freedom of association for an individual. To be banished from the group was equivalent to a death sentence as the individual was then alone against the elements. From this primordial survival instinct the human race developed social units from the family to the nation state with the same concept of safety in inclusivity hence a sense of belonging was inculcated from birth to ensure the group survival. As societies grew they also developed various modes to chastise errant members of the group by for example disowning a member of the family or excommunicating a congregant. The net effect was ostracism by limiting the freedom of association. Because expulsion from a group did not automatically result in curtailment of freedom of association societies created prisons to incarcerate those that they wished to limit their freedom of association. Imprisonment is an internal expulsion. Even in the prisons when the authorities wish to further curtail that freedom of association they then put the one deemed to require special punishment into solitary confinement thereby limiting an already limited freedom. It is evident that putting people in any situation that limits their freedom of association is deemed as punishment and people actually show symptoms of psychological imbalance when put in confinement the extreme being those that have phobias of confined places. In this corona era the government has taken various precautionary measures that are aimed at controlling the spread of the pandemic by limiting close human contact that has been identified as the prime cause of infection. Unfortunately this means the closure of colleges and schools where the application of the social distancing requirement to control the pandemic is impossible. Classrooms are also usually packed and the risk factor is too great to take. The psychological impact of closing places of worship is serious in that it is to the religious institutions that people instinctively run to when things are not working out. People are confused when literally turning to the houses of God has become dangerous. Sport and music events, be they outdoor or indoor are avenues for people to congregate and have fun together, the very word team spirit is derived from people getting together to support their team against another which help people bond. These are not allowed. 02 MAL37/20 ISSUE