Airtel hands over Westgate Tragedy cash to the Red Cross

By Standard Reporter 

NAIROBI, KENYA: Airtel Kenya has handed over Sh2.175 million to the Kenya Red Cross to help victims of the Westgate attack. 

The company also announced the closure of its pay bill number, which had been set up to raise funds towards the Westgate tragedy. The amount handed over to Red Cross is the total collected by midday last Monday and includes a portion of direct commitment by the mobile firm to match the amount of money contributed by its staff. 

The pay bill number enabled well-wishers and Airtel staff to make contributions via the firm’s mobile money platform, Airtel Money.  

In a statement issued while handing over the cash to the Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross, Dr. Abbas Gullet at the Kenya Red Cross headquarters in Nairobi, Airtel Kenya managing director Mr. Shivan Bhargava said the company is deeply moved by the support it received from well-wishers and its staff.  

“We continue to stand together with all our affected brothers and sisters and their families and we are hopeful that the unity and peace so far reflected by each citizen of this nation will prevail in the days to come,” said Shivan. 

Dr. Gullet thanked Airtel for its efforts while noting that the spirit of Kenyans behind the generosity and care in giving, and not the amounts contributed is what mattered most.  

He explained that the money raised would be used to offset bills arising from the tragedy, including hospital bills and also offer psychosocial support to victims and rescue operations staff. 

Dr. Gullet explained that his organisation would also offer support to the hospitals to improve their capacity to store higher volumes of blood, defray cost of running the ambulances used during the rescue operations and other support services. 

Mr. Bhargava expressed his appreciation to the Kenya Red Cross, The Government, relief effort agencies and individuals for their gallant efforts to ensure return to normalcy through rescue, relief and condolences to the affected families. 

The company had also earlier set up a wi-fi and call center at the blood donation operations by the Kenya Red Cross at Uhuru Park besides partnering with Adelle Consultants to provide free professional counseling services to the victims of the Westgate tragedy.