Private entities throw weight behind State’s anti-coronavirus kitty
CSR: The emergency response fund set up to fight Covid-19 last month is doing well with a number of companies pledging to provide cash to support the cause.
Created by President Uhuru Kenyatta and headed by Jane Karuku, the fund is tasked with the responsibility of mobilising resources to assist in the fight against coronavirus.
Karuku said although some people provide cash, others partner with different organisations to give what they can.
Ventilators
The World Bank has donated Sh5 billion while Danish Ministry of Development Cooperation has given 22 million Danish Kroner (Sh232.83 million) – all which will go to the Covid-19 kitty.
The bank has also contributed 250 ventilators, while Chinese billionaire, Jack Ma and co-founder of e-commerce multinational Alibaba, has also provided 20,000 testing kits to help contain the pandemic.
Last week, local corporations such as Co-op Bank, Devki Steel Mills – each donated Sh100 million to go towards the fight against the pandemic.
Kenya Pipeline Company, East African Breweries Ltd and Pwani Oil said they would provide public hospitals with hand sanitisers.
Devki pledged to donate Sh100 million worth of oxygen to public hospitals. Narendra Raval, who is also a member of the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund board, said the donations will be available for collection from their Mombasa, Athi River and Ruiru plants.
Pwani Oil said it will provide 60,000 bottles of free hand sanitisers. The firm has also partnered with Kenya Ferry Services to provide soap on ferries and also distribute hand washing equipment to be used at police stations, health facilities and other public spaces across the country.
The company has also partnered with the Kenya Progressive Nurses Association to provide 122 hand washing kits and 70 cartons of soap to be distributed to the medical personnel in hospitals across 11 counties. United Bank for Africa-Kenya has also donated Sh15 million.
