Govt begins to distribute free hand sanitizers in fight against coronavirus

The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has partnered with several private and public sector players to donate 130,000 litres of free  hand sanitizers in the fight against coronavirus.

The sanitizers have been packed into 500ml bottles for household use and 20-litre containers for institutions such as health facilities, police stations, market centres.

“In less than two weeks, KPC, oil marketing companies and other players have produced over 130,000 litres of free hand sanitizers to benefit Kenya’s most vulnerable people. This will go a long way in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in the country,” said KPC Managing Director Macharia Irungu.

The free hand sanitizers initiative is part of the government’s effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

In a letter dated March 18, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta had tasked KPC to produce alcohol-based sanitizer for free distribution to the public.

Principal Secretary for Petroleum Andrew Kamau said the hand sanitizers, whose production KPC was coordinating, would be distributed for free across the country.

The main target is Kenyans living in informal settlements.

The sanitizers will be transported across the country by different partners including East African Breweries, Bollore Logistics, and Maersk Kenya.

KPC has also appealed to more State and non-State actors to support the initiative as it targets to produce more sanitizer in the coming weeks.

So far, over 93,000 litres of the free hand sanitizers have been released to several counties namely: Nairobi, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale and Nakuru. Others include Siaya, Kajiado, Kiambu, Muranga, Makueni and Machakos.