Last night I slept with a mosquito inside my mosquito net. I know, yes I hear you. A lot of us can identify with this moment. It is very frustrating.
When I got into bed I had not noticed it and blissful went to sleep. Then in the middle of the night it started buzzing and buzzing, interrupting my sweet sleep. Zizzzz ziizzzz ziiizzz. I was more asleep than awake to bother with it and chase it away. After waving my hands in the air a bit it went. Quiet was restored and I soon fell into a deep asleep only to be interrupted again. This happened several times in the night and each time I could not master the energy to take a permanent and final solution to the problem.
When morning came there we were ensconced in the same space still. I not fully rested and harassed. It trapped with nowhere to go even if it wanted to. A slight lift of the net to let it loose would have spared us all. But why didn’t I? In all honestly I underestimated the problem. I thought it would sort out its self. I over estimated my ability to coop. I assumed too much and too little of the mosquito.
Recently a Nairobi Court Magistrate ruled in favour of Residents plea against a night Club owner who had failed to comply with The Noise and Excessive Vibration Pollution Regulation and continually caused other Residents to suffer sleepless nights and adversely affect children’s education. The Magistrate ordered an injunction against the Club prohibiting them from any further operation of live streamed music and instructed the local Police to enforce this.
Sleep deprivation can lead to higher risk of chronic health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. According to Harvard Medical School, for people with hypertension, one night without enough sleep can cause elevated blood pressure all through the next day.
What is excess noise? In Kenya the regulator puts the limits at 55db – Day and 35db – Night for mixed residential area (with some commercial and places of entertainment). Construction sites 60db – Day and 35bd – Night. One can measure noise levels using a free sound meter App on your phone.
As I pondered about this incidence and listened to many other residents in the city complain of similar injustices. I found myself in good company that is, I and the mosquito; them and their neighbourhood noise disturbances. Unlike the Residents that came together and made a call to action against the club owner, many of us were frustrated. Suffering in silence, you say? No. Suffering in noise and doing nothing about it.
So this is where we part ways. Tonight I am going to ensure I have a good night’s sleep. I will take all the necessary precautions to ensure that I do. If I can’t do it alone I will call for help and together it shall be done.
Pauline's Log 
Good job Pauline! A lovely piece… I loved the comparisons.. Let’s make a deliberate effort to Be More effective in addressing our discomforts…
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Thank you Pamela. You have captured the intention perfectly.
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I loved this piece.Doing nothing is doing something,with frustrating results
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You have said it so well. I may quote you. Thanks.
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