EU to compensate 80,000 Kenyans affected by COVID-19

EU envoy to Kenya Simon Mordue during the signing of a grant on May 20, 2020 to enable the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNCHR) take up urgent public interest litigation cases that benefit the vulnerable and marginalised.

Nairobi, KENYA

80,000 vulnerable Kenyans who lost income sources due to COVID-19 are set to receive Ksh. 606 million (€5 million) from the European Union through non-profit organisations.

EU Ambassador for Kenya Simon Mordue said the aim of the project is to improve food security covering 50% of recipients’ food needs, and other essential costs such as soap, water, rent, and mobile phone credit.

“The EU is standing with Kenya during this difficult time, providing a lifeline through cash transfers for the worst affected people in Nairobi’s urban informal settlements, including women, the elderly and persons with disabilities,” he said in a statement.

According to the EU, an estimated 30% of Kenyans living in Nairobi’s informal settlements are experiencing severe hunger as a result of COVID-19.

The EU’s partners are expected to provide 20,000 households living in the Kibera, Korogocho, Mathare, Soweto, Majengo, Gitare, Marigo, Gatina Lunga Lunga, Kayole and Mukuru informal settlements of Nairobi with monthly cash transfers for three months, starting June.

The direct cash transfers will be done via M-Pesa and will complement the Ministry of Labour’s Inua Jamii programme.

EU’s partners in the program are Oxfam in Kenya, Kenya Red Cross Society, Concern Worldwide, ACTED, IMPACT, the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, and the Wangu Kanja Foundation.

47 year-old Priscilla Ngilla, a mother taking care of two children in Kibera said: “It has helped me a lot, I even thank God for that. Because…this house, if you hadn’t sent me that money, I wouldn’t be here. I would have been chased away. But thanks to what you gave us I was able to divide it a little and pay for the house, and a debt I had nearby to pay for food.”

Mat Cousins, Oxfam in Kenya’s Humanitarian Director said: “By mobilizing resources quickly, the European Union has shown its commitment to working in partnership with the people of Kenya, government authorities, civil society and affected communities. This whole of society approach will save lives.”

The EU itself is contributing Ksh. 35 billion to Kenya’s response to COVID-19 whilst EU member states have already provided more than Ksh. 3.3billion (EUR 30 million).

“That figure continues to increase and this collective support by Team Europe is a statement of Europe’s friendship and partnership with Kenya in these difficult global times,” the statement adds. – The CitizenTV