This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
As Kenya marks nearly five months since its first COVID-19 case was confirmed on March 12, 2020, the country's businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. However, a few companies are thriving in the face of the pandemic, with some making billions from government contracts.
According to a report by the Standard on August 3, 2020, a State agency has channeled close to Sh. 2 billion to nine companies for the government's response to the pandemic.
One company, which has not been named, is supplying Personal Protective Equipment and KN95 masks to a government agency worth Sh. 970 million. This translates to the company grossing more than Sh. 300 million every month in sales. The supply of PPEs and masks has proved to be the most lucrative for companies, with many selling a single PPE kit for Sh. 9,000 and one KN95 mask for Sh. 700.
For example, Accenture Kenya Limited supplied some 12,000 PPE kits for Sh. 108 million, while Abyssinia Group of Industries was contracted to supply 30,000 N95 masks with a respirator for Sh. 27 million. Bell Industries supplied 15,000 PPE kits as well as 5,000 infrared thermometers for a combined Sh. 185 million.
Medilife Biologicals Ltd has supplied government agencies with KN95 masks and three ply surgical disposable masks for Sh. 230 million. Another company, Nanopay Limited, got some action on the masks game, supplying 50,000 KN95 masks for a tidy Sh. 35.5 million.
Light Up Limited had supplied 50,000 half-litre bottles of hand sanitiser for Sh. 25 million by June 4. Shop N Buy Limited, on the other hand, had done business worth Sh. 970 million by the same date, making it one of the biggest pieces of business during the pandemic.
