Rivals in rare collaboration to secure the world

Sub-County Police Commander Kilifi South Mohammed Wako (middle) receives hand-washing kits donation from Pwani Oil Products Limited Production Manager Sim Moonesawmy at the company’s plant in Kikambala.

As the world struggles under the weight of coronavirus that has halted major operations in most countries, a sense of unity and collaboration is emerging from places rarely seen before.

A group of scientists who would otherwise be rivaling on who is the first to come up with a vaccine have now put competition aside and are working together with hopes that they will step out of the lab with a solution soon.

“We put out a call to investigators and scientists and basically said: ‘Hey, let’s talk,” said Dave O’Connor from USA, one of the lead researchers in an international consortium trying to find a vaccine.

In the past, scientists have worked in isolation, with some hiding their data and findings until they are published in high profile peer reviewed journals for the fear of their work being stolen by other scientists.

Closer home, two weeks ago, competitors and companies that have at times squared out with each other in court because of rivalry have joined together in an initiative to keep Kenyans safe from Covid-19.

Businesses are putting their resources together to fight the disease. Energy companies have come together to facilitate the blending, packaging and distribution of hand sanitizers to the public. They are working under the multi-agency team mandated by the Head of Public Service to produce alcohol-based hand sanitisers for distribution to low-income and vulnerable groups and populous areas to curb the spread of corona.

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), which was mandated to lead in the blending of an initial batch of 600,000 litres of ethanol, mobilised additional raw materials, blending facilities and skilled personnel, packaging and labelling equipment, as well as an end-to-end distribution.

“We usually do not produce hand sanitisers, but were able to flexibly and quickly adapt our facilities to respond to this urgent need,” said KPC Managing Director Macharia Irungu.

Companies that have joined the initiative include Vivo Energy Kenya, Total Kenya, Ola Energy, Kenol Kobil, Pwani Oil, Sepyana Oil East Africa and Solvochem East Africa.

Rival pharmaceuticals that engage in fierce campaigns online and off the net have joined hands to establish a consortium to speed up development and delivery of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments for Covid-19.

Football stars

Norvatis CEO Vas Narasihman said the collaboration with 15 other pharmaceuticals came about because they felt a sense of shared responsibility to find ways of curb the pandemic.

Major grocery stores in countries that are on total lockdown are also speaking in one voice. Unlike the past where they would seek to outsmart each other to get an edge in the market, they have introduced dedicated hours for the old and expectant women to shop.

“It is not just one supermarket. All of them are operating the same. They open at the same time and close at the same time,” said Ibthisam Fuad, a Kenyan in Italy.

In Kenya, supermarket chains are collaborating to enforce guidelines to curb the virus spread.

In sports, Premier League stars have come up with the #FootballUnited campaign that has gained popularity. Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin, Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend are among people involved in the campaign to benefit vulnerable groups.

In Kenya, banks have united to give declarations on their charges and loans, without letting business rivalry cloud their decisions.