This archive report was first published on 24 May 2020.
On May 23, 2020, Kajiado County took a significant step towards addressing hunger and social distancing concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic by launching a digital food distribution system.
The innovative system, dubbed M-Riziki, was launched at Ngong town by Governor Joseph ole Lenku. The governor explained that the app will enable vulnerable individuals to receive a pin sent to their phones, allowing them to access food from a pre-selected shopkeeper.
Designed by Empiris Creative Communication and Fashionnaire Corporation Ltd, the app automatically generates an invoice when a hamper of pre-selected food items is accessed by a beneficiary. Payment is then released to the shop owner.
Beneficiaries were selected through local county administrative structures, and shopkeepers will download the app to verify and validate beneficiaries before offering them food allocations.
According to Governor Lenku, the digital system reduces logistical nightmares of food transportation to far-flung areas, particularly during heavy flooding that has cut off some villages.
“Money is tracked online, receipting, and payment to shop is online, and even pre-selected beneficiaries without smartphones can access relief food,” said the governor.
The digital food distribution comes as dozens of residents in the county face hunger due to prolonged drought and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
“A large number of people in rural areas cannot afford to put food on the table, let alone afford facial masks, and that’s why we are working to assist them,” said Lenku.
Most affected areas are Mailua (Kajiado Central), Torosei (Kajiado West), and Ilkilunyeti in Kajiado East Sub-county.
