Safaricom donates Sh15m to assist victims of protests
Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations have made a KES 15 million donation to assist victims of protests as well as infrastructure development and support to hospitals.
As part of the donation, KES 10 million will go to the hospital’s Disaster Response Centre, while KES 5 million will go towards supporting those injured and admitted at the hospital.
The KES 5 million will be for provision of assistive devices to the injured, smartphones and airtime for those who lost their phones, supporting affected individuals with three months’ worth of food as well as one year worth of rent for those in extreme condition.
Safaricom has also allocated KES 12.5M for similar efforts across the country.
Speaking at Kenyatta National Hospital, Safaricom CEO, Peter Ndegwa, said “Our Foundations are there to stand with people, especially in times of need. We are happy to provide hospitals with structured support in times of emergencies, both for infrastructure improvement and patient recovery.’’
“We are happy to partner with Safaricom and continue to have a positive impact to Kenyans seeking medical assistance at this time of need,” said Dr. Evanson Kamuri, CEO Kenyatta Hospital.
To provide further immediate support, Safaricom, through its M-Pesa Foundation, is organizing medical camps in affected areas, starting with Githurai on 6th July 2024, followed by Rongai at a later date.
In the medium-term, Safaricom says it will also mobilize its Gen Z employees as well as other like-minded corporates and foundations, under the #GenZforGenZ initiative, which will entail volunteer squads leading community outreaches, clean-ups, and medical camps.
The long-term plan will entail a comprehensive execution of community programs through M-Pesa and Safaricom Foundations, with an increased focus on Gen Z. This includes providing TVET scholarships, economic empowerment through the Ndoto Zetu program, agri-business value chain opportunities through the Wezesha Agri Program, and offering access to business training and micro loans in 13 counties, starting with Nakuru, Nairobi, Kajiado, and Migori.
The plan will also include supporting mental health through strategic partnerships and provision of complimentary counselling services.