This archive report was first published on 21 April 2020.
On April 1, President Uhuru Kenyatta established the COVID-19 Emergency Fund to mobilize resources for an emergency response to the pandemic. By April 21, the fund had already received significant contributions from Kenyan media houses.
As part of their efforts, the Media Owners Association (MOA), led by Royal Media Services Managing Director Wachira Waruru, contributed Sh150 million to the fund. This contribution was made in the form of advertising space and airtime, which will be carried across various platforms, including newspapers, radio, television, and digital platforms.
Waruru stated that the contribution will be availed to the fund as it mobilizes resources to contain the spread, effects, and impact of the pandemic. He also emphasized that members have committed to reviewing their contribution if and when the situation demands.
Other media houses that contributed to the fund include Standard Group, Nation Media Group, Mediamax, Kenya Broadcast Corporation, Radio Africa Group, TV47, Switch TV, Three Stones Media Limited, Radio 44, Media 7 Group, Kass Media Group, Family Media, and Ebru Africa Limited.
As of April 21, the fund had raised over Sh1.2 billion in monetary and non-monetary contributions, with the number of recoveries increasing to 74 after five more people were discharged from hospital. The pandemic had so far infected 296 people and killed 14.
