Raila, firms offer aid in battle against virus

Letshego Kenya CEO Adam Kasaine hands over a donation of Sh1 million to Jane Karuku, chair of Kenya Covid-19 Emergency Fund. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga has donated supplies worth Sh15 million to help residents of Kibra during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

Raila and his wife Ida yesterday handed the consignment, which included food, sanitisers, soap, oil and water, through the national government.

To comply with social distancing, the supplies were delivered to the office of Kibra Deputy County Commissioner Gideon Ombongi, which will coordinate the distribution with Raila’s chief of staff Andrew Mondoh.

“The supplies have been mobilised by the family from own savings, corporates and individual friends,” read a statement by Raila’s spokesman Dennis Onyango.

Among the donors are Kenya Pipeline Ltd, Bidco, Tononoka Steels Ltd, KAPU Africa, Kapa Oil and Mr Jimmy Wanjigi.

In an earlier statement, Raila had asked Kenyans to do all they can to stop the spread of coronavirus.

He had warned that the country was running out of time to contain the virus, whose effects are devastating.

“I have known you for long. I know your strong faith and belief in friends, family, social networks and acquaintances. I know your determination, kindness and humour even in grim situations,” he wrote.

“I am calling on every Kenyan to use his or her existing personal social connections and ask them daily to protect themselves from coronavirus,” he wrote.

He said the country needs “a new breed of patriots for this new breed of war... The war is not for the armed selected few. It is for every man and woman, every boy and girl. Here is my appeal, let’s personalise this war.”