This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
On April 22, 2020, the County government of Nakuru launched a new voucher system aimed at providing medical and relief food supplies to 100,000 residents affected by the economic effects of Covid-19.
According to Governor Lee Kinyanjui, the programme will be rolled out in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross and will target orphans, vulnerable children, the physically challenged, the elderly, and heads of households who had lost their employments and incomes due to the pandemic.
The initiative has also brought on board the National Government, which has put in place stringent procedures to ensure that only deserving cases receive the donations.
Speaking at an event where he received foodstuffs and sanitary products from various industrialists in Nakuru, Kinyanjui announced that part of the money raised will go to medical facilities operating in low-income areas.
He expressed concern that over 70,000 residents in Naivasha Sub-County have lost their jobs following the closure of horticultural firms, while a further 50,000 people in Njoro, Subukia, and Rongai Sub-Counties have lost their source of income due to the closure of export-oriented businesses.
Additionally, over 4,000 employees working in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector in Nakuru have been rendered jobless following the closure of hotels due to restricted travel regulations.
However, Kinyanjui's administration has banned direct donation of food, medical supplies, and social amenities to beneficiaries, citing the need to avoid compromising public health and rolling back gains made in the efforts to contain Covid-19.
