•President Uhuru said the Sh1 billion in the fund should be channeled to help the most vulnerable in the society.
Image: PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned against mediocrity in the utilisation of the Covid-19 funds.
Uhuru on Thursday said the fund should strictly be responsive and open to innovation and technology.
The President said so far the Emergency Response Fund has received Sh1 billion since it was established.
"I do not expect to hear of needless delays and frustrations in the release of these funds. We should strive to improve and expedite our ability in assisting those in need of these funds," Uhuru said at State House, Nairobi.
So far, the pandemic has left 234 people infected in the country with 11 dead since the first case was reported on March 13.
Some 53 patients have so far recovered with over 10,000 people having been tested.
Over 1,000 others are still in quarantine facilities while 156 are in isolation centres across the country.
President Uhuru said the Sh1 billion in the fund should be channeled to help the most vulnerable in the society.
He said as a result, his administration has identified several households within Nairobi that will start benefiting from the weekly household stipend plan.
Uhuru said his government has released Sh5 billion to the counties to supplement efforts in cushioning citizens from infections.
He said the money should be diverted to procuring personal protective gear like face masks for the citizens.
Uhuru said another Sh8 billion has been released under the cash transfer programme for the elderly.
"I have released an additional Sh500 million in arrears to persons with disabilities," he said.
Uhuru said all donations towards the hardest hit by the pandemic should be done in a coordinated way through the fund.
"We are a country of empathy and compassion. We have those reaching out to those who are adversely affected but donating foods and other items, but these donations should be channeled to the COVID-19 response fund," he said.
Uhuru said if the fund is well utilised, it will ease the burden on many households as food prices will likely drop.