KENYA: Moran Publishers Donates Towards Flood Victims in Western Kenya
Rose Achiego
Nairobi based book publishing firm, Moran Publishers Limited, has responded to the Emergency Response Appeal sent out by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and landslides, with a cash donation of Kshs 100,000 (USD 1,000) and books worth more than Kshs 800,000 (USD 8,000).
The donation which was handed over to the President of Caritas – Kenya, Most Rev. Martin Kivuva Musonde, on 25th June 2020, at the publisher’s office in Nairobi, will go towards supporting flood victims in the Archdiocese of Kisumu and Diocese of Bungoma.
Speaking while receiving the donations, Archbishop Kivuva thanked Moran Publishers for their kind gesture, noting that children in flood and landslide-hit regions are in greater danger because they fall victim of drowning, starvation and disease.
He added that because some of the schools have been submerged, children are also lacking learning materials.
“Disasters directly cause disease and damage to education and health infrastructure, while indirectly they lower disease resistance by heightening poverty and malnutrition,” he said.
Issuing the cheque and books, Moran (E.A.) Publishers Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David Muita, expressed hope that the donation will alleviate the pain of the victims affected by the devastating floods, landslides, and COVID-19.
“We also believe that the books will be of great use to both students and teachers in the affected schools and will go a long way in uplifting educational standards in the community,” he added.
Parts of Busia and Kisumu counties are faced with disasters following the onset of seasonal rainfall and increased water level in Lake Victoria that has led to backflows that have caused flooding in Budalangi, Samia, Matayos, Nyando, and Ugenya Sub Counties.
According to reports, the heavy rainfall and floods have caused pit latrines and toilets to fill up and overflow, with some collapsing or sinking.
Over 607 households have been affected and schools submerged. It is estimated that up to 11 schools submerged in Budalangi alone. Schools like Mundika Primary School, are acting as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
The situation is critical with the potential for the cholera outbreak, even as the country is fighting to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
