Kenyatta urged all Kenyans to hold hands and raise funds, banking on the support and goodwill of all Kenyans. The board, chaired by Kenya Breweries Limited Managing Director Jane Karuku, sent a press release on Tuesday, April 21, detailing that they had managed to raise over Ksh1.2 billion.
However, doubts linger over a few contributions, as on Tuesday, April 7, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) presented a donation of Ksh2 billion to the as part of efforts to beef up the Covid-19 emergency fund. Kenyatta, on Monday, April 6, directed the money to be channelled towards the Covid-19 fund.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji addresses a press conference at his office in Upperhill, Nairobi on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
File
kenyagist.com
While donating the Ksh2 billion on Tuesday, April 7, Haji explained that the money had been generated from proceeds of corruption cases.
“We have various institutions dealing with corruption. A lot more money is out there but because cases are not complete, we can’t use it. We have to wait for the cases to be complete,” Haji explained.
“The bulk of the money came from deferred prosecutions which we entered with the banks under the NYS program, a number of other plea bargains and voluntary surrender of money by individuals who were to be prosecuted,” he added while speaking with Citizen TV’s Yvonne Okwara on Thursday, April 9.
The DPP, while speaking with kenyagist.com, further clarified on the pledge, allaying fears that rose from the contribution.
“There were certain formalities that were incomplete so the end of the week, the money will be there. Certain formalities and commitments” Haji explained.
On Thursday, April 16, Kenyatta urged the board members of the Covid-19 fund to ensure that the process set up by private and public firms to raise money was coordinated smoothly to hasten service delivery.
“This fund should be responsive and should not be inhibited by bureaucracy and must be open to innovation and technology in the delivery of assistance to our people. I do not want to hear of needless delays and frustrations. We must expedite our ability to deliver this assistance to our people in the shortest possible time.
The resources raised by the Covid-19 fund team seeks to support the government’s efforts in the supply of medical facilities and equipment and support for vulnerable communities with their immediate needs, including food.
“The board would like to express its deepest gratitude for the support and goodwill that the fund continues to receive from Kenyans from all walks of life.
“We would like to encourage more Kenyans to donate to the fund as we all work together to overcome this challenge. Let us work together to save lives,” the statement by Karuku dated Tuesday, April 21, lauding Kenyans for their efforts on raising over Ksh 1.2 billion reads.
Video: NTV
