This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Government and Donors Unite to Combat Covid-19 in Kenya ¶
On June 4, 2020, the Kenyan government, in collaboration with various partners, converged at the Kenyatta International Conventions Centre (KICC) to flag off donations aimed at combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the event, ICT, Innovations and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru highlighted the government's efforts to protect livelihoods during the pandemic. He mentioned the Kazi Mtaani initiative, which utilizes mobile payments technology to ensure that youths receive their money safely.
According to Mucheru, over 200,000 youths have benefited from the Kazi Mtaani project, while the Inua jamii program has supported over 1.2 million beneficiaries. He emphasized the significance of these interventions in helping communities continue with their livelihoods and supporting the local economy.
Mucheru also spoke about the innovations emerging as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. He mentioned that his ministry has set up an ICT advisory committee to analyze these innovations and provide recommendations.
“We have over 400 credible innovations that can be used to fight Covid-19 and for the future, so that even from this pandemic, we can emerge as winners,” Mucheru explained.
He urged Kenyans to adhere to the advice of the health ministry, as spiking Covid-19 cases would put the country in a worse situation. Mucheru also called on Kenyans to take advantage of the free time to plant trees, which would help the world become a better place as it emerges from the pandemic.
Ministry of Public Service and Gender CS Prof. Margaret Kobia highlighted the increase in gender-based violence cases during the pandemic. She mentioned that girls are staying at home longer, leading to an increase in defilement cases, early pregnancies, and domestic violence.
Prof. Kobia emphasized the need to flatten the curve on domestic and gender-based violence, as it erodes people's confidence and leads to counterproductive behavior. She also mentioned that the youth are the most mobile segment of society and could be the ones infecting people most, highlighting the need to target and protect them.
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection CS Simon Chelugui spoke about the need to protect the elderly, who are vulnerable to the pandemic. He mentioned that Kenya has one of the highest old-age dependency rates in the world, with 81 percent of the population relying on others for support, and old-age poverty standing at 51 percent.
Chelugui emphasized the importance of protecting the elderly, who are at risk due to their age and vulnerability. He also mentioned that the donations launched at the event would contribute positively towards flattening the curve.
Other organizations present at the event included the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Boda boda safety Association of Kenya (BAK), who donated sanitizers, face masks, and girls' dignity kits.
