Kenya COVID-19 Fund raises over Ksh.1.2B for emergency response

The COVID-19 Emergency Fund has raised Ksh. 1.2billion through mobilisation of resources for response towards containing the spread, effects and impact of coronavirus.

A statement from the Board Chairperson Jane Karuku said corporates, foundations, religious institutions and individuals have enthusiastically stepped forward to donate to the fund.

“The Board embarked on its mandate and I am happy to report that the support and goodwill towards this initiative has been very encouraging,” she said.

She enumerated that cash donations were at Ksh. 917,768,950 while material resources (food and non-food items) valued at Ksh. 370,300,000 have been donated to the Fund.

This brings the total contribution to Ksh. 1,288,068,950.

The Board Chairperson further reaffirmed that the donations will be utilized to support the government’s efforts in the supply of medical facilities and equipment and support for vulnerable communities.

“The Board would like to express its deepest gratitude for the support and goodwill that the fund continues to receive from Kenyans from all walks of life. We would like to encourage more Kenyans to donate to the fund as we all work together to overcome this challenge,” she said.

A detailed list of all contributions is available on the Fund’s website www.kenyacovidfund.co.ke

The Kenya COVID-19 Fund was appointed on March 30, 2020, by President Uhuru Kenyatta and commissioned on April 2, 2020.

The principal object of the Fund is to mobilise resources for an emergency response towards containing the spread, effects and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The resources seek to support the government’s efforts in the supply of medical facilities and equipment and support for vulnerable communities with their immediate needs, including food.

The Board, fully aware of the challenging economic times that Kenyans are facing arising from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, seeks to reach out primarily to corporate entities, development partners and multinational institutions for their contributions to the Fund.

The Board is chaired by KBL Managing Director Jane Karuku and members include Kennedy Kihara (Secretary), Michael Joseph (Safaricom Board member), Dr James Mwangi  (Equity Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer) and Joshua Oigara (KCB Group CEO) .

Other Board members are Dr. Narenda Raval (DEVKI Steel Mills Chairman), Jeremy Awori (ABSA Bank Kenya CEO), Wachira Waruru (Royal Media Services MD), Mohammed Hersi (Kenya Tourism Federation chairman) and Phyllis Wakiaga (Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO).

CS Fred Matiang’i (Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Security) and Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Council of Governors Chairperson) are also sitting on the Fund’s committee as the Government’s joint representatives.