The COVID-19 Emergency Fund on Friday 10th April received a generous material donation comprising assorted foodstuffs from the Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK).
The food consignment mobilised by the Hindu Council to be distributed over one month to households in Nairobi’s informal settlements and valued at Ksh100 million was handed over to the Fund’s Chairperson, Ms Jane Karuku, and Secretary Kennedy Kihara at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Vulnerable households
Speaking at the handover function, and flanked by the HCK Chairman, Mr Kamal Gupta, among other officials, Ms Karuku reiterated the Fund’s commitment to integrity confirming that donation will provide immediate food relief to vulnerable households living in Korogocho, Mukuru, Kibera, Kawangware, Kangemi, Dandora among other informal settlements in the Nairobi Metropolitan area.
While calling on other donors to emulate the HCK example, Ms Karuku said the Board has set up the necessary framework to secure a coordinated consolidation, demarcation and distribution of such donations to vulnerable populations across the country based on an already developed needs assessment analysis.
The Fund is currently focused on providing support and enhancing national response efforts to supply of medical facilities and equipment and support for vulnerable communities with their immediate needs, including food relief.
“As we extend our gratitude for this generous donation from the Hindu community, we are encouraged that despite the overwhelming impact of the pandemic, and paralysis that it has brought to bear, it has not impacted upon our humanity and natural inclination to extend a hand of generosity to our brothers and sisters when in need as evidenced by the continued steady stream of donations the Board continues to receive,” she said.
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Established in 1971 as a non-commercial organisation aimed at serving the Hindu community living in the Republic of Kenya in East Africa, Hindu Council of Kenya Chairman Kamal Gupta said the organisation had in recent weeks managed to mobilise the food items consignment countrywide.
“Keeping true to the Hindu unity ideals, our members across the country managed to mobilise these food items which we believe will be used for the benefit of our fellow citizens hard hit by the vagaries of the current COVID-19 challenge,” Mr Gupta said.
Social services
Over the years, the Hindu Council of Kenya’s record of philanthropy has greatly influenced the social service sector in Kenya, in pursuit of their vision for peaceful co-existence.
The Council has played a significant role in supporting poverty alleviation programmes such as paying fees for deserving cases, contributing towards famine relief, supporting charitable organisations and extending medical facilities to those who cannot afford them.
