A flamboyant businessman and former convict, Gor Semelang’o, has pledged to donate Ksh 25 million to vulnerable families living in slum areas within Nairobi and parts of Nyanza.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Semelang'o who is a former Youth Fund boss, cited that part of the money would be used to pay rent for those residing in houses that go for less than Ksh 5,000.
“This is a personal sacrifice during this coronavirus crisis. I will work with provincial administrators and community leaders in the exercise. It will begin on Thursday in Nairobi County.
"I will pay rent for those paying below Kshs 5,000 within Nairobi informal settlements (Mathare, Kibra, Ngomogo, Lang'ata, Embakasi, Kasarani)," he stated.
Semelang’o added that rent payments would be directly paid to either the heads of families, landlords or the housing agents.
"A neighbour must confirm that the family has been going through rent distress," he continued.
Further, he stated that the rest of the money would be used to purchase a family survival kit consisting of maize flour, cooking oil, rice, salt and soap.
Ironically, Semelang’o was recently committed to civil jail for failing to pay a Sh3.6 million debt.
On Tuesday, September 24 2019, Gor was sentenced to 30 days in prison for defying a court order issued on November 27, 2017.
Semelang’o had been on the run until the police finally caught up with him.
The former Youth Fund chairman is known for his flashy, philanthropic, outgoing nature and has reportedly had several chase cars in his entourage in the recent past.
President Uhuru Kenyatta fired Semelang'o from the Youth Fund barely a year after he had been appointed by the former president Mwai Kibaki.
In 2013, Semelang”o was among the influential youth who volunteered to shield Uhuru against ICC accusations.
