KPC has dispatched over 20,000 litres of free hand sanitizers to several counties in northern Kenya in a new move to counter the spread of the deadly Coronavirus in the rural areas.
KPC, which is spearheading the national government’s efforts to take the war against coronavirus to the grassroots, announced this today when they welcomed Diversey East Africa which has joined the growing list of corporates that are supporting government in the war against Covid-19.
Speaking to journalists after receiving over 40,000 litres of hand sanitizers from Diversey EA, KPC Managing Director Macharia Irungu said that government is also focusing on far flung counties to help arrest the rate of spread of coronavirus which has claimed over 170,000 lives and affected more than 2.5 million people globally.
“For us to beat this virus, national and county governments must collaborate and we are happy to announce that even far flung counties of Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo, Marsabit and Garissa have already cumulatively received over 20,000 litres of government sanitisers through their governors and county commissioners,” Dr Irungu told journalists adding that the counties will be receiving more in the weeks to come.
“Today is a historic day as we welcome Diversey EA into this noble initiative. KPC is also eternally grateful for other partners like Kenya Wines Agency (KWAL) and KRA for ensuring that we have sufficient amounts of ethanol to produce these sanitisers for Kenyans,” he said adding that the additional litres of sanitisers from Diversey will also go to the counties.
Diversey EA Vice President Boniface Kariuki lauded the move noting that they are happy to be associated with the fight against coronavirus because their cardinal mission as a company is to protect people’s lives at all times.
“Our core business is making sanitisers to protect our people. So when KPC approached us to assist in making some to be given out to needy Kenyans for free during this crisis period, we quickly welcomed the idea and we are ready to continue supporting this initiative until Kenya becomes coronavirus free,” Kariuki said.
KWAL which has donated 105,000 litres of ethanol to produce these sanitisers believes in supporting Kenyans as part of their social responsibility.
“When this crisis struck, we quickly mobilised ourselves and provided free ethanol to assist in manufacturing the hand sanitisers to be used by the frontline staff in counties and the less fortunate in our communities,” said KWAL Board Chairperson Kuria Muchiru.
Muchiru promised to continue supporting the initiative in ensuring that the Covid-19 pandemic is fully eradicated. He also urged Kenyans to practice responsible drinking especially during this crisis period.
The free hand sanitizers initiative is part of the government’s effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country which has seen the number of people in Kenya who have tested positive rise to 296 by Tuesday 21st April 2020 according to the Ministry of Health. To date, KPC has distributed nearly 500,000 litres of hand sanitiser to all 47 counties.
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