The Makueni County Governor, Prof. Kivutha Kibwana has appealed to leaders and well-wishers to donate to the County Emergency Response committee to help fight Covid-19.
Prof. Kibwana said that the well-wishers can donate jerriccans, hand wash sanitizers and face masks or money which will go a long way in combating coronavirus in the county.
The governor spoke on Friday at his Wote office when he received 120 jerricans and 1000 masks from Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) and 17 jerriccans and 250 masks from Makueni Union of Journalists (MUJO).
“When people are at war, they don’t fight alone but we need to fight together so that we can win the war against the covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
During the function, the governor warned against hawking masks saying they did not meet the required standards hence would endanger the lives of the people.
In this regard, Kibwana said that the County Technical Training Institute at Kitaingo in Mukaa Sub County was now making the standard masks and encouraged residents to buy their protective gears as they will be affordable.
At the same time, the governor said that the residents should differentiate the kind of face masks they should use, hence avoid using those meant for medics.
While thanking KESSHA for the donations, he challenged them to be at the forefront of creating awareness in the communities on the need to observe what the government in a bid to fight the coronavirus.
During the event, the governor said that they will open a joint account with the county commissioner, where well-wishers will donate their money to ensure accountability of the funds.
“Teachers should take time to educate wananchi especially this period they are not in session. They should help the people understand the magnitude of this pandemic,” he said.
Speaking at the same function, Makueni County Commissioner (CC), Maalim Mohammed said that all donations should be channeled to the County Emergency Response Committee.
Mohammed said this will avoid duplication of efforts and ensure the donations go to the needy and deserving cases in the community.
“We want the donations to come to the committee so as to avoid what happened in Kibra in Nairobi,” he said.
He revealed that already Kasikeu MCA, Julius Tangai had donated food relief to 250 needy families while Kaiti Member of Parliament Mr. Joshua Kimilu has promised to donate 20,000 face masks to the committee.
By Patrick Nyakundi
