Hundreds of vulnerable families in Nairobi will receive food and non-foodstuffs worth Sh.3.8 million donated by National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
The donations were handed over to the eleven Nairobi Deputy County Commissioners (DCCs) who are expected to distribute them to over 900 families to cushion them from the economic effects of the curfew and other containment measures occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic.
While flagging off the donations to the respective sub counties on Tuesday, the Nairobi County Woman Representative, Esther Passaris said that they are targeting 1,800 families in the larger plan, such as those living with disabilities as well as non-communicable diseases who will receive 500 of such bags later this week.
Passaris said that each family bag contains two kilograms of maize flour, two kilograms of wheat flour, two kilograms of sugar, one kilogram of green grams, one kilogram of beans, unga mix for those in special needs category, cooking fat, baby masks as well as sanitary pads.
She expects that the package will last a family for at least a week or two.
Passaris called on the DCCs to ensure that the foods reach the needy families in their respective 11 sub counties to ensure that they survive during these unprecedented times occasioned by Covid-19.
“Each Sub County will get 80 bags for eighty families at a cost of Sh.3,100 per bag. Give them the package just as it is without dismantling the package,” said Passaris who further noted that about two million Kenyans countrywide are in dire need and that Kenyans must now be their neighbours’ keeper.
She further stated that the National government has put various interventions to deal with effects of Covid-19 but emphasized that it can only do as much, and appealed to stakeholders to come on board to ensure that no Kenyan goes hungry due to lack of food.
“This virus will be with us for a very long time before we flatten the curve, Nairobi is the hardest hit so far. We must assist needy families at this time to be able to survive,” said Passaris.
Passaris also warned against Gender Based Violence (GBV) which she said has been on the increase in the country since the government imposed a partial lockdown and dusk-to-dawn curfew to contain the spread of Covid-19.
“Churches and religious leaders have a role to play in supporting and ensuring on a moral society, we must work together to ensure that everybody is safe,” she said.
The National GBV hotline registered 201 cases between February and March while the Fida-Kenya hotline registered 81 cases between April and May.
The National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) is a Semi-Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA) under the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, in the State Department of Gender Affairs.
By Alice Gworo
