Wachira Waruru, Michael Joseph, Joshua Oigara to serve as Board members for proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

Royal Media Services MD Wachira Waruru has been selected to serve as a Board member for the proposed COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday directed the National Treasury to set up the Fund to foster Kenya’s national response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The principal object of the Fund shall be to mobilize resources for emergency response towards containing the spread, effects and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,”  reads the statement from State House.

Kenya Breweries Managing Director Jane W. Karuku has been nominated to serve as Chairperson for the Fund.

Board members will be:

1. Royal Media Services MD Wachira Waruru (who is also the Chairman of the Media Owners Association)
2. Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph
3. Equity Group Managing Director Dr. James Mwangi
4. Devki Group Chairman Dr. Narendra Raval
5. Kenya Commercial Bank Group CEO Joshua Oigara
6. Absa Bank Managing Director Jeremy Awori
7. Kenya Tourism Fund Chairman Mohammed Hersi
8. Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Phyllis Wakiaga
9. PAS in the Office of the President Kennedy W. Kihara (nominated to serve as Secretary for the Fund)

Similarly, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Council of Governors Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya are to be the joint representatives of the Government.

The seed capital of the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is to be drawn from the Exchequer, including the voluntary salary-cuts undertaken by the senior ranks of the Executive, Judiciary, Legislature and County Governments.

Further, the Exchequer contributions are to be supplemented by donations from Kenyan individuals and corporate entities, grants from Kenya’s development partners and multinational institutions.

State House also indicated that other gifts, subscriptions and contributions that the Fund may receive from time to time will also go towards boosting response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Government of Kenya calls upon all Kenyans, corporate entities both domestic and multinational, as well as our international development partners to support the national initiative. By doing so, Kenya will be better able to successfully contain the spread, effects and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our citizens, and particularly the most vulnerable members of society,” the President said.