The scouting movement in Kenya has joined government agencies and corporates to stop the spread of Covid-19 among vulnerable groups.
The Kenya Scouts Association donated face masks, hand sanitiser, liquid soap and water tanks to 2,000 families in Kibra, Mathare and Kamukunji areas in Nairobi.
The donations were part of a nationwide campaign christened “Scouts Stopping Coronavirus.”
Speaking at the flagging off event at Rowallan national scouts camp in Kibra, the national executive commissioner Moses Ochieng Danda said scouts would also reach out to communities in Nyeri, Kajiado, Siaya, Mombasa and Kilifi counties.
He said the scouts are involved in preventive and sensitisation programmes with the aim of flattening the curve.
“We are at the moment focusing on communities in informal settlements. Scouts are in the front line as ambassadors, encouraging fellow community members to wash their hands and wear masks as a way of stopping the spread of coronavirus,” Danda said.
Communications officer at the association Risper Omala urged like-minded partners to come on board and join the over 2.1 million scouts in the 47 counties to fight spread of the virus.
“Our scouts across the county have undergone training on Covid-19 preventive measures and are making a difference in their communities by sensitising them on the same on various online platforms,” she said.
“Some have creatively invented hand washing gadgets and placed them in strategic places including markets to ensure people get an opportunity to wash their hands regularly.”
Antony Gitonga, the international commissioner at the association, said scouts camps and centres had resumed operations under the stipulated government Covid-19 prevention measures.
“Our centres are safe spaces and we call upon the public to use our facilities for their outdoor activities,” he said.
Edited by Henry Makori
