By Thursday, the COVID-19 Fund had raised Ksh2.7 billion mostly from corporates, wealthy business leaders, deep-pocketed entrepreneurs, foundations, religious institutions, and from well-wishers. The amount comprised Ksh2.14 billion cash donations and Ksh505.836 million in material resources — food and non-food items, the Jane Karuku led Fund disclosed.
In a statement, the board said it has prioritized the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth Kshs600 million for the support and protection of health workers dealing with COVID-19 patients in public hospitals.
The PPE set to be procured by the Fund will be dedicated to hospitals across all 47 counties earmarked for COVID-19 treatment, health facilities in Dadaab and Kakuma Refugee Camps as well as Moi, Kenyatta, and Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospitals.
“The PPEs will be sourced from local manufacturers in line with the goal of stimulating the local economy. The quality standards for these procurements have been aligned with the Ministry of Health specifications, guided by the Board’s Health Committee of experts and practitioners,” the board said in a statement issued on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Fund received a major boost when Equity Group CEO James Mwangi’s family contributed Ksh300 million to the kitty alongside Equity Bank’s Ksh300 million contribution and Mastercard Foundation’s Ksh500 million donation.
Corporate contributors include Equity Bank (Ksh300 million), Safaricom (Ksh200 million), KCB Bank (Ksh150 million), National Treasury (Ksh150 million), NCBA Bank (Ksh100 million), Co-operative Bank (Ksh100 million), Hindu Council of Kenya (Ksh100 million— food donations), Devki Group (Ksh80 million — oxygen supply) and Absa Bank (Ksh50 million).
First Chartered Securities (Ksh25 million), National Cement Company Limited (Ksh20 million), Naivas Supermarkets (Ksh20 million — food supply), Capwell Industries (Ksh20 million), UBA Kenya (Ksh15 million), Chandaria Foundation (Ksh10 million), Sanlam Investments East Africa (Ksh8 million), WPP Scangroup (Ksh5 million), Tetra Pak Kenya Ltd (Ksh4.6 million), Letshego Limited (Ksh1 million) and EGM Securities (Ksh1 million).
The Media Owners Association of Kenya (MOA) has donated (Ksh150 million) worth of broadcast airtime to help sensitize Kenyans on matters Coronavirus.
The Kenya COVID-19 Fund was appointed on March 30 President Uhuru Kenyatta to mobilize resources for an emergency response towards containing the spread, effects, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Its members include Board Chairperson Ms. Karuku who is the Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) MD, Kenya Airways Chairperson Michael Joseph, KCB Group CEO Joshua Oigara and Devki Group Chairman Narendra Raval.
Absa Bank Kenya CEO Jeremy Awori, Royalmedia Services Managing Director Wachira Waruru, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) CEO Phyllis Wakiaga and Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of the President Mohamed Hersi also sit on the board.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson Wycliffe Oparanya sit on the board as government representatives.
