The Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) have donated Sh. 6 million towards families affected by landslide and floods in West Pokot County.
The donation will be used for the purchase of iron sheets for home reconstruction for victims in Tamkal, Parua and Nyarkulian areas who were mostly affected by the disaster about one week ago.
More than 4,000 people were displaced by the disaster that claimed 43 lives in the three areas, where 36 bodies found and seven still missing, 166 households were seriously affected.
Anastacia Kimutai, the Retail Director KCB Bank Kenya handed over the cheque to the area governor, Prof. John Lonyangapuo on Monday accompanied by bank staff members across the country.
Mrs. Kimutai said the donation is part of the bank’s responsibility and commitment to give back to the community through the KCB foundation charity programmes.
“Our corporate social responsibility is to assist the community when such disaster hit. Also we believe in giving back to the community in which we operate because they give us business,” she said.
She said as KCB team they were shocked with the loss of lives and livelihood following the disaster, saying the bank will continue to assist those who were rendered homeless to get an alternative home.
Kimutai disclosed that under business development services, KCB has funded 12 groups with about 183 people from different locations across the county benefiting.
“KCB has been an important partner in training SMEs and giving interest free loans to 12 groups comprising 183 individuals from the county and scholarship to 41 youth undertaking technical courses in various institutions across the country,” she said.
Lonyangapuo hailed KCB for the support noting that the donation would complement county government efforts to uplift the lives of the victims.
“We thank KCB bank for the donation and we are asking other banks to emulate this example. We are trying to help the victims who lost everything to start from somewhere after the devastating floods and landslides,” said Lonyangapuo.
The governor said the support will go directly to the victims, saying he has talked to Mabati Rolling Mills to offer them iron sheets at a subsidized price.
He further requested KCB Kenya to offer more scholarships to the needy students who were mainly affected by landslides in the county, saying some of the students might not be able to continue with their studies as all of their livelihoods was destroyed.
By John Saina
