British High Commissioner to
Kenya Jane Marriott and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho. The UK has
announced a stimulus package to vulnerable Mombasa families. [Courtesy]
The United Kingdom Tuesday announced it will donate Sh144 million (£1
million) towards supporting vulnerable families in Mombasa.
The stimulus package will see some 10,000 people living in informal
settlements receive direct cash transfers to cushion them from the
economic burden caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Selected families will receive money through mobile cash transfers to
pay rent, buy food or basic items, the British Embassy said in a
statement.
The High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott – who visited some of the
would-be beneficiaries in Tudor Muoroto – said she hoped the support
would spur the local economy.
"Coronavirus pandemic is global: we are all in this together. Across the
world, there is a significant impact on people’s jobs and livelihoods,"
Ms Marriott said.
"Cash enables families to buy what they urgently need… This support will
also stimulate the wider local economy as most of the basic items are
supplied by small business owners living within their communities".
The embassy said Ms Marriott’s visit to Mombasa highlighted the UK’s
commitment to helping the Coast region fight Covid-19, terrorism and
violent extremism.
It added that it also underscored their support to helping modernise the
port of Mombasa, as well as supporting resilient urban development in
coastal Kenya.
"It’s not just about philanthropy but more to do with humanity. This
means a lot to the people of Mombasa and the country at large," said
Joho.
He went on, "The devastation occasioned on the world economy by the
Covid-19 pandemic, can amongst many other things be mitigated through
initiatives meant to resuscitate the economies at the grassroots."
British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott during her visit to the Tudor Muoroto informal settlement. [Courtesy]
The donation is part of UK’s wider support to Kenya in addressing impacts of Covid-19.
About 50,000 vulnerable people and families have been earmarked to receive support of approximately Sh717 million.
This will be delivered through UK aid funded Hunger Safety Net Programme
(HSNP) which has helped deliver timely and predictable cash transfers
to up to 600,000 people vulnerable households in four northern Kenyan
counties since 2007.
No comments :
Post a Comment