The United Kindom has announced Sh144 million direct financial support to cushion vulnerable communities against the effects of COVID-19 in Mombasa County.
The money will be channelled to 10,000 vulnerable people and families through mobile cash transfers to address their most pressing needs – such as rent, food or other basic items.
British High Commissioner to Kenya Ms Jane Marriott announced the support for some of the families worst affected by the pandemic during an official visit of Mombasa County.
The High Commissioner visited the Tudor Muoroto informal settlement to see first-hand the potential beneficiaries of the cash transfer programme.
This announcement is part of the UK’s government support to 50,000 people living in informal settlements in Mombasa and Nairobi counties.
“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,” she stated.
The visit highlighted UK’s support to the coastal region, including tackling COVID-19, countering terrorism and violent extremism, helping modernise the port of Mombasa, as well as supporting resilient urban development in coastal Kenya.
Governor Hassan Joho said the devastation occasioned on the world economy by the COVID-19 pandemic, can amongst many other things be mitigated through such initiatives, meant to resuscitate the economies at the grassroots.
” 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 the Governor while thanking the UK Government for the gesture.
