Safaricom’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore (far right) hands over a dummy cheque of Kes. 50 million to the First Lady H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, as former Vice President Moody Awori looks on.


By Deborah Otieno (@jedebz)

Nairobi: The Safaricom Foundation has today set aside Ksh50 Million to go towards the rehabilitation of the Kenyatta National Hospital’s (KNH) New Born Unit.

This much needed initiative which is part of the Kenya@50 Legacy projects will enable the purchase of additional neo-natal incubators, new-born ICU beds and resuscitation equipment.

The hospital’s New Born Unit currently operates at a staggering shortage as every day five babies are born either preterm or sick with low birth weight. Additionally the hospital has to cater for transfers from other hospitals in the region. Total admissions in the unit therefore culminate to a 100 babies on any given day.

With such staggering numbers, the New Born Unit currently only has15 incubators and 4 ICU beds. Inadequate resources are therefore largely to blame for the 40% mortality rate registered in the unit. 

Fortunately, this donation has come as a result of the long standing relationship forged between Safaricom and KNH. Speaking when making the handover, Safaricom CEO, Bob Collymore said, “With this donation, we continue to highlight our on-going and long standing commitment towards helping raise a healthy generation that will contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s development.”

In addition to that, the First Lady H. E Margaret Kenyatta, who is also spearheading support for the maternal health sector through a project dubbed ‘Beyond Zero campaign’, lauded Safaricom’s move.

In her speech during the event, she called for the devolution of private public partnerships saying, “The Safaricom Foundation has set an example of the key role that the private sector plays in helping us resolve key societal challenges. I would therefore like to urge other private sector players to follow their lead and form similar partnerships for public good particularly at the county level,” said the First Lady.

Furthermore, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, James Wainaina warmly welcomed the donation.  He termed it as a move promoting child survival, not only in the country but in the entire region, given KNH’s role as a regional referral hospital.  

Safaricom’s donation as part of the Kenya@50 Legacy projects is a move aimed at partnering with the government in key areas to develop the country.