Kenya food campaign hits Sh490m, expected to rise

Kenya corporate organisations Friday contributed over Sh300 million in support of the Kenyans for Kenya initiative.

The cash pledges made totalled Sh301,368,880 million while those in kind came to Sh53.4 million.

The contribution brought the total raised through the initiative to Sh490,022,722.

Last week, Safaricom and Kenya Commercial Bank in conjunction with the Media Owners Association (MOA) launched the campaign aimed at raising Sh500 million to feed 3.5 million Kenyans facing starvation.

And at the Serena Hotel, the who’s who in Kenya’s top and middle-size companies gathered at the corporate pledging session, to boost the kitty.

The operation has been open to all Kenyans with the minimum contribution pegged at Sh10, with service charges waived.

According to the Kenyans for Kenya website, contributions made by the public were at Sh136, 686,259, by 7pm Friday.

Among the CEO’s present were Kenya Airways’ Titus Naikuni, Equity Bank’s Dr James Mwangi, Nation Media Group’s Linus Gitahi, Safaricom’s Bob Collymore and Kenya Commercial Bank’s Martin Oduor-Otieno.

While companies represented included Oil Libya, Kenya Union of Savings & Credit Co-operatives Ltd, Kass Media Group, Sameer Group, BAT, The Manu Chandaria Foundation, G4S, Jetlink and EABL.

Company executives, business men, local musicians and participants thronged the makeshift tent, most of them donning t-shirts branded “Kenyans for Kenya” which were on sale on location and whose part proceeds go to the kitty.

From the speeches, it was evident that the business representatives had brought in a healthy competition spirit in an effort to outdo each other in the contributions.

Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Abbas Gullet commended the effort Kenyan had made to ensure people in need of food aid received it.

“We all have the responsibility one way or another to ensure these people in marginalised communities are taken care of,” he said.

Mr Gullet added that Deloitte and Touche, an auditing firm, was on board to audit the accounts and ensure the money would be used appropriately.

Deloitte East Africa CEO Sammy Onyango went on to add that the firm would take it a notch further by ensuring that indeed the people in need of the aid would receive it.

NMG’s Linus Gitahi echoed Mr Gullet saying: “We should be in the business of providing hope to our fellow brothers and sisters.”

Also, Mr Gitahi urged Kenyans to continue supporting the initiative and making donations to the fund.

The warm giving atmosphere prompted Safaricom’s Bob Collymore to express his envy the spirit of togetherness that he said Kenyans had exemplified.

“At this particular moment, I wish I was a Kenyan,” said Mr Collymore who was born in Guyana, South America.

“Actually, I am proud to be Kenyan.”

Further, they urged the political class to shun the blame game and look into long term measures that would avert a repeat of the situation.

“They should forget their political theatrics...we cannot attend their rallies on empty stomachs anyway,” Standard Group’s Paul Melly said.

However, former Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph asked the government to re-consider its priorities saying failure to which, Kenyans will be forced to rally together for another fundraising for relief food.

He said: “Kenya does not need a railway line. White elephant projects should be put aside and build dams instead.”

The contribution made in kind included: media time to keep the awareness going, food items and cargo delivery waivers.

The funds, raised by the Kenyans for Kenya initiative, will be administered by the Kenya Red Cross Society and will ease the anguish those in the worst-hit areas of Wajir, Marsabit, Turkana, Garissa, Kwale, and Mandera.

Donations can be made to the fund either through cash or cheque deposits into KCB bank account number 1133333338 or via mobile money transfer system M-Pesa on Pay Bill number 111111.

Similarly, deposits can be made at the Equity Bank and money transfers made through mobile service providers Airtel and Orange.