• The report is in response to an alleged 'misunderstanding' relating to its operations.
• Kenya has received a total of Sh2.6 billion cash donations from well-wishers, corporate bodies and multinational institutions.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
The Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund Board on Thursday released a report on the progress and utility of resources towards combating the spread of the virus in the county.
This was in response to an alleged 'misunderstanding' relating to its operations.
Parliament is investigating missing millions of shillings collected by the President's Covid-19 task force after it emerged the money never hit Treasury accounts.
"We have exercised our role prudently and diligently – and we are proud of the broad set of interventions executed by the Fund that have helped the most vulnerable Kenyans during this challenging time," the Board Secretariat said.
The Board was established by President Uhuru Kenyatta with the duty of mobilising resources to help deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Board's report, Kenya has received a total of Sh2.6 billion cash donations from well-wishers, corporate bodies and multinational institutions.
The country has also received an equivalent of Sh0.5 billion in-kind donations mainly in form of food.
"The Fund did not receive any monies from the Exchequer: any receipts from Government agencies were collected as personal donations," the Board secretariat said.
The Board said this fund was divided into two priority pillars: health and welfare interventions.
"On the health pillar the fund prioritised supporting local manufacturing for building capacity in the spirit of ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’," the Board said.
On welfare interventions, the Board said funds were released at the height of the pandemic which supported over 100,000 families with stipends and food.
"The Fund Board adopted utmost transparency and good corporate governance with various committees set up (including Audit, Fundraising, Livelihood and Procurement committees). All services of the Board Members, Fund Secretariat, private sector professionals, health sector experts, audit firms and other actors offered their services on a pro-bono basis," the Board said.
The Fund Board also said it has approved and subjected the full operations and activities of the Fund to audit by the Auditor-General in view of the public interest nature of the Fund’s raison d'être.
Treasury PS Julius Muia on Wednesday told a parliamentary committee that the emergency cash collected by the task force is not reflected in the Treasury’s books of accounts.
This was after the fund was transformed into a private limited company.
The exact amount is not known but Sh1.3 billion was collected by December 31, 2020.
The Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund was formed on March 27, 2020, to among others facilitate voluntary contributions to help in the fight against respiratory disease in the country.
Kenya Breweries Ltd managing director Jane Karuku was the chairperson of the 12-member board drawn from both the government and private sector.
Others were Michael Joseph (Safaricom), James Mwangi (Equity Bank), Narenda Raval (founder, Devki Group of Companies), Joshua Oigara (KCB Bank), Jeremy Awori (ABSA bank) and Wachira Waruru (Royal Media Services).