Safaricom Foundation Extends Kenya Red Cross Partnership For Flood-Hit Counties

Over 1,000 households affected by floods in Tana River, Lamu, Isiolo and Baringo counties are set to benefit from a donation of non- food items. This is after Safaricom Foundation extended its partnership with the Kenya Red Cross to help families affected by the ongoing floods.

Safaricom Foundation has put in KES 11million towards the provision of three months’ supply of sanitary towels, kitchen sets, mattresses, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, soap, jerricans and water disinfectants. In addition, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the affected families will also receive face masks.

“It is unfortunate that the residents of these four counties have to deal with both the effects of flooding and the risk of the COVID-19 disease. They have lost their property because of the heavy rains which also puts them at risk of waterborne diseases. That is why we partnered with Kenya Red Cross to distribute essential non-food items to the affected families.” said Joseph Ogutu, Safaricom Foundation Chairman.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, at least 10,000 households in these four counties need support with Tana River accounting for 80% of the households affected in the four counties.

“Since the onset of the rains in March 2020, over 240,000 people in 43 Counties have been displaced and many more affected in other ways including loss of property and livelihoods.  These losses have a big psychological impact on the affected families and the support from Safaricom Foundation will ensure that basic health and domestic needs are taken care of, creating continuity of livelihoods in Tana River, Lamu, Isiolo and Baringo counties.” Dr. Asha Mohammed, Kenya Red Cross Secretary General.

Last month, the Foundation donated non-food items worth KES 14.7 million to families in Homabay, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia counties who had been severely affected by the ongoing floods.

"The flood waters came suddenly in the middle of the night and we had to run and camp on the roadside before we were evacuated. I lost all my household items as I had not time to pick anything. I want to thank the Kenya Red Cross and the Safaricom Foundation for giving me some items to use with my family. Now we can eat and live comfortably knowing that we are being supported " Barnabas Ochieng Akello, Community Member in Ombaka, Nyando Sub County.

Safaricom is also working with the Kenya Red Cross to send out messages to people living in flood prone counties, asking them to take early precaution. So far SMS early warning alerts have been sent out to over 11 million people in Western Kenya, Rift Valley, Coast, North Eastern and Central.