Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has flagged off a 1,500-tonne consignment of hand washing soap, sanitisers and chlorine aimed at combating the covid-19 pandemic in the region.
Oparanya said the supplies, donated by Evidence Action Organisation, would benefit 2.1 million people in 8,200 villages in nine counties.
The county head stated that the targeted counties include Kakamega, Vihiga, Trans Nzoia, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Siaya, Migori, Bungoma and Homa Bay.
He disclosed that the distribution will mostly concentrate on rural communities and will benefit half a million people in 100,000 households in Kakamega County alone.
“The households will receive one kilogramme bar soap every month for four months, avail chlorine for treating water points as well as distribute hand washing soap,” he said.
He added that they have identified Bukhungu stadium parking area as a matatu fumigation point with 400 Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) having so far been fumigated.
The county boss cautioned area residents against purchasing sub-standard face masks stating that they do not meet the minimum safety requirements and hence would be hazardous.
The Regional Director of Evidence Action Paul Byatta said that the programme is modelled on the organisation’s Dispensers for Safe Water (DSW) that they run in several countries on the African continent.
“This campaign is geared towards ensuring communities have access to safe water as well as boosting hygiene standards to flatten the covid-19 curve,” he asserted.
By Sammy Mwibanda and Remigius Maloba
