Elizabeth Omondi Consultancy

20/01/2026

Turn Over: Embracing the New Year

It’s already past mid January 2026! Only 20 days ago, the children were as happy as ever, eagerly anticipating the night ahead. This time, however, it felt different; they were a bit older and understood the significance of the clock striking midnight. New calendars would be turned over.

As we gathered in the city, not far from where we could observe the night sky, excitement filled the air. Although the sky was somewhat cloudy, it wouldn’t diminish the thrill of the spectacular fireworks we had long awaited to herald the new year.

Five, four, three, two, one—suddenly the sky erupted in a dazzling display of colours and patterns. From the comfort of our home, we could hear the jubilant shouts echoing around us. Last year had been different: we celebrated in a village somewhere in western Kenya, where the excitement was not as palpable.

Yet, I am continually amazed that God has gifted us with a vast array of stars—massive entities burning serenely in the night sky, enduring long beyond our lifetimes. We can marvel at this divine creation every night, provided the heavens are clear. These stars remind us of God’s goodness and creativity.

In the beginning, on the fourth day of creation, there was only eternity—nothing to distinguish day from night. Then, “God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1v16-18). We humans cannot deny that fact: that God’s creation is good!

For the youngsters, the turn of the year signifies excitement—moving to a new grade, possibly attending a new school, and meeting new friends. There’s plenty of reason for cheer.

However, as a parent, the transition into a new year brings uncertainty. What will the new year entail for my children as they move to new grades? What responsibilities need to change? How can we make life more meaningful and efficient? Questions abound regarding resources and plans for our future.

In work or business, what changes must occur to achieve progress? How can I ensure that this year is not merely about a calendar shift, but rather about growth in every area of life? Even the oldest tree in the forest continues to produce new leaves and flowers—what new growth can we achieve in leadership this year?

Leadership is dynamic. Each day is unique; what was true yesterday is not the same today, and today will never be the same as tomorrow. The weather changes, along with the seasons, but one constant remains: God. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—reliable, good, kind, loving, and sovereign.

As the new year continues to unfold, let’s view it as a turning over of the pages in the book of our lives. What new chapter are you writing? Self-management is key to effectively leading others, whether at home, in the workplace, or in any community.

New Year’s resolutions shouldn’t merely accompany the turning of the calendar—rather, they should reflect personal growth and progress. How we manage this growth is crucial. Just as even a bedridden person’s hair continues to grow, our goals for the new year should focus on establishing good habits. Keeping a journal of milestones and rewarding ourselves for achievements can help maintain momentum. Rewards are essential!

Jesus Christ stands as the supreme example of growth across all life areas. As Dr. Luke notes, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2v52).

There are four pivotal areas for growth:

Wisdom:

The Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom. To grow in wisdom, consider studying God’s Word daily. Daniel attested, “Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are his” (Daniel 2v20). Additionally, explore books and podcasts on various topics—health, business, entrepreneurship—to expand your understanding.

It is comforting to read Jesus’ half brother, James, advising us in the Bible, “ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1v5.

Stature:

Stature encompasses physical height and the moral and intellectual development of an individual. Jesus exhibited growth in all these aspects. As seen when he astounded the teachers at a young age, seek growth in your areas of interest. Attend talks, seminars, and actively ask questions to enhance your skills.

We picture Jesus walking a lot as we read His stories through the pages of the Bible. But He also took time to rest and recharge. As you turn over the pages of your life, no matter your age, try engaging in a sport. Walking, running and dancing have good health benefits. Whatever exercise that will keep you moving, and you enjoy is worth considering as an added benefit to your physical and mental health. Good health is key to ensuring that you function optimally.

Favour with God:

Jesus Christ, who was fully man, grew in favour with God. He often withdrew to pray and spent quality time with His Father. Consider how you can nurture your relationship with God Almighty in 2026 and beyond.

Favour with Man:

Reflect on other Biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel, who found favour with earthly authorities through integrity and faithfulness and thrived even under very difficult regimes. Jesus found favour among His disciples, who became foundational to the early church. Who are your friends and allies? Investing in meaningful relationships is essential. Pray and ask for God for His favour and for favour with man.

2026

Now that we are already halfway through the month of January 2026, what pages of your life have you turned over? Most children have gone back to school, the youth, middle aged and older persons have resumed their daily routines and life has continued as normal. It’s business as usual, or is it?

Studies show that it takes more than two months for a new behaviour to become automatic. Its never too late to form a new, good habit, or to seek growth in certain areas of your life. Start small and simple, keep at it and watch the transformation months down the road. The clock is ticking, time is moving, pages are turning. Don't be stuck on one page of your life. This year, turn over the pages of wisdom and stature, favour with God and favour with man.

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HOPELESSNESS: Tough Choice the Poor Have to Make
Between Dying of Hunger, or COVID-19

When the clock struck midnight, and calendars turned to day one of January 2020 we ushered the start of a new decade and jubilation was registered in almost every continent. Most were happy to have crossed over to a new year. Like all new things, new years come with fresh prospects for the future including renewed energy for what lies ahead, better resolutions touching on health, wealth and even spirituality.
For a moment, we forgot about the fires that were sweeping though Western Australia, the locusts that were invading East Africa, the presidential debates in North America, the effects of Brexit on Europe’s economic pride and stability, the football events in South America, the effects of global warming on the melting ice of Antarctica and the lives of many that were being threatened by a virus that began in the world’s most populous country in the world, China, on the East of the most populated continent, Asia.
Little did we know that even before governments all over the world could plan their fiscal year budgets, the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) would disrupt all their planned activities. Every single government and household, rich and poor alike will have to re-organise their calendars and tough choices have to be made.
Sadly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) situation reports do not inspire any hope of a decline in the pandemic, though scientists are working hard around the clock to find a cure for the disease. With every passing day, the number of new infections and deaths caused by the disease across the globe are increasing. By the time of writing this article over one million new cases of the COVID -19 had been reported globally, with 40,598 deaths worldwide. Africa seems to be the least affected by the disease with 4073 confirmed cases 91 deaths reported. The European region has so far registered the most cases with 464,212 confirmed and 30,089 deaths.
WHO has been very clear on measures that governments need to take with the aim of flattening to COVID-19 curve. The body has outlined clear public health and social measures useful for slowing or stopping the spread of COVID-19 at national or community level. Social and physical distancing measures aim to slow the spread of disease by stopping chains of transmission of COVID-19 and preventing new ones from appearing. These measures secure physical distance between people (of at least one metre), and reduce contact with contaminated surfaces, while encouraging and sustaining virtual social connection within families and communities.
Steps taken for the general public include introducing flexible work arrangements such as teleworking, distance learning, reducing and avoiding crowding, closure of non-essential facilities and services, shielding and protection for vulnerable groups, local or national movement restrictions and staying-at home measures, and coordinated re-organisation of health care and social services networks to protect hospitals. The measures are used in conjunction with individual protective measures against COVID-19 such as frequent hand washing and cough etiquette.
All public health steps to slow the spread of the disease can be balanced with adaptive strategies to encourage community resilience and social connection, protect incomes and secure the food supply.
Countries have been urged to balance the possible benefits and negative consequences of each intervention and deploy strategies to encourage community engagement, gain trust and limit social, or economic harm.
There are many strategies the WHO suggests that can support community resilience and mental health, protect access to essential goods and services, and limit the economic impact of stay- at-home measures where these are deemed necessary. For example, organising work-sites to ensure physical distance between persons, such as staggering shifts over time, or converting on-site service to home delivery may help to keep more businesses open. Tele-working and tele-schooling strategies in different contexts demonstrate innovation and the role of technology in supporting business continuity and sustaining social connection within families and communities. In general, implementation of distancing measures should also aim to sustain personal and professional community connections by virtual means and technology, including widely accessible means such as radio and mobile phones.
All these guidelines that have been encouraged by WHO are well outlined on their website for governments, communities and individuals to take note of and adopt for their own benefit.
In Kenya, the Ministry of Health under the able leadership of Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and his team have done a commendable job in giving daily updates on the situation of the disease globally and within its territory. The government has given several directives that are aimed at helping to stop the spread of coronavirus disease which had initially been imported into the country by non Kenyan citizens, but has now shifted to spreading among communities. Over 100 people so far have been tested positive with the disease and three deaths registered as a result of COVID-19.
Among the measures being directed and implemented within Kenya are a 7.00 pm to 5.00 am curfew all over the country, social distancing, wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) masks, public service vehicle (PSV) drivers are required to also wear the masks and carry less passengers in their vehicles. Motorcycle taxi, also known as ‘boda boda', riders have been asked to carry only one passenger and to wear masks. Those intending to use public transport have also been asked to put on masks. The closure of all learning institutions was among the first directives given since reporting the first case of coronavirus in the country.
For economies like Kenya, some of the restrictions being used to beat the COVID-19 are very difficult to implement considering that the majority of the working population making significant contributing to the country’s GDP are in the informal sector. Most cannot afford do work remotely.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics 2019 - Economic Survey report, the number of persons engaged outside small scale agriculture and pastoralist activities rose from 16.9 million in 2017 to 17.8 million in 2018, representing a 5.0 per cent growth. This implies that the economy generated an extra 840.6 thousand jobs in 2018. In the modern sector, total employment increased from 2.8 million persons in 2017 to 2.9 million persons in 2018. Jobs in the informal sector which constituted 83.6 per cent of total employment, increased by 5.4 per cent to 14.9 million persons. The number of self-employed and unpaid family workers within the modern sector was estimated to have increased from 139.4 thousand in 2017 to 152.2 thousand in 2018.
With these statistics in mind, the very necessary restrictions made by the Kenyan and other African governments do not work in favour of the poor mwananchi and only hurt an already ailing economy.
Anyango, a hard working mother of three young children one of whom is a toddler and has to be left in a day care centre in the sprawling informal settlement in the heart of Nairobi City while the mother goes out to look for work. Now the daycare centres are closed and the child has to be left at home together with the two primary school going children who also have to stay at home because schools have been closed.
In their small house, they do not have computers, or laptops that may have been useful perhaps to continue with the e-curriculum that is ongoing in the better placed private schools. They are too poor to afford such luxuries, and the school they attend is not well equipped to offer long distance learning. Anyango's husband is unemployed and has go out on a daily basis to search for employment at a construction site everyday in the hope that he will be one of the selected few who are contracted to work and get paid at the end of the day.
COVID-19 has left Anyango is in an unprecedented dilemma, feeling squashed between a rock and a boulder and forced to look up beyond the hard place and the sky for help. Help from God. With soft eyes she looks at her children and wonders, how will they be fed if she does not go out to buy food? How will she buy food if she does not earn any money to buy the food? How will she earn a dime if she does not get out to try and find some by all means? The toddler needs to be left with a nanny. The children are no longer in the safe confines of the school compound. They too need being looked after. Left to deteriorate under the grind of poverty and threat of the novel coronavirus, Anyango has been left with the tough choice between staying at home and dying of hunger, or going out and risking her life in the danger of contracting COVID-19 while trying to fend for and feed her family.
Anyango’s story is not unique to her. As I pen this article, I know of people who have already lost their jobs and the biggest question at the top of their minds is not necessarily how they shall pay rent at the end of the month, or even when the coronavirus will end, but where their next meal will come from. You see, we work to meet our basic needs of food, shelter and clothing. Out of those basic needs, food is still the top priority for survival. For Anyango and many other households in both urban and rural Kenya as well as many other African countries the situation is the same on a daily basis.
Rwanda, the first African country to go under the total lockdown for two weeks has extended the lockdown for another 15 days ending on 19th April. The president, Paul Kagame took a commendable lead to ensure food is distributed to the most vulnerable households. How
sustainable is this? Uganda, a landlocked country has also imposed a curfew that will definitely impact negatively on its economy like all other countries around the globe.
In Kenya churches and well wishers are collecting cereals for distribution to the most affected communities, while the government is distributing free hand sanitisers across the affected counties. Already various manufacturers as making and selling PPE masks to the public.
Like a powerful earthquake, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has shaken the economies of the richest and poorest countries alike. However, as World Bank Group President David
Malpass put it, “The poorest and most vulnerable countries will likely be hit the hardest,”.
This disease has cut across barriers of race, gender, economic, political and social status and even religious denominations. Apart from Antarctica, which has no permanent residents, every continent on earth has been affected by the coronavirus disease of 2019. No question has been raised about survival for the fittest. The fundamental question that governments need to ponder is, what tough choices do the poor have to make amidst this pandemic and how can governments move swiftly to cushion struggling economies from total collapse?