I did not know what to ‘Go Commando’ meant, until a friend told me that it simply means going about your business or daily duties without wearing any inner garment! It shocked me abit but again with the hot weather in Mombasa, it seems the better or only option.
I did not confirm this practice since even a mini-survey can prove to be difficult for you to get quality data with minimal or no margin errors, but indeed Mombasa residents are ‘going commando’.
When you walk in Mombasa town and the weather has hit 35 degrees and the clouds have just paved way for the sun to send its hot rays to the ground, then you have to weigh the option, and ‘going commando’ may be helpful.
Such sentiments were once shared by former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko, who after his photo was manipulated and ended up showing a woman sitting behind him without underwear.
Though Sonko cleared the air about the photo, he advised Kenyans that “With the hot weather some women had chosen to go about their daily duties without wearing inner garment,”
On his part, Coast-based journalist Collins Liberty Adede who works with the Voice of America (VOA) says that the situation is very tough and going about your duties without inner garment can help a friend.
Mr Adede noted that the situation in Mombasa is so dire and when the situation persist…kindly ‘go commando’.
“Mombasa saa hii kuvaa boxer/undergarment ni shida tupu ama ni Mimi tu?” Meaning ‘In Mombasa it has become very challenging for one to put on an inner garment following the extreme hot weather. But specifically he is uncomfortable wearing boxers following the extreme hot weather’
Am assuring Mr Adede that he is not alone and that ‘he will never walk alone’ in Mombasa without inner garment, ‘we are many’
[Voice of America (VOA) Coast regional Reporter, Collins Liberty Adede. Photo/courtesy/March, 01, 24].
Maybe it is the impact of climate change, who knows, but with the Weatherman, Kenya Meteorological Department Director and the Permanent Representative of Kenya in the World Meteorological Organisation, David Gikungu, we may soon rest easy. Mostly towards the end of March as the long rains are set to cover most parts of the country, and the Coast region as well.
With such promising new projections, we will go back to the normal and drop the somehow ‘new normal’.
Nevertheless, until then, Adede and I and perharps many others will ‘go commando’ being comfortable at work and at home in whichever situation is better than suffering in silence.
