Some of Nairobi's middle-income earners are suffering in silence, with some going for several nights without food as the effects of Covid-19 pandemic spread across the country, data collected by Governor Mike Sonko's Rescue Team (SRT) shows.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Sunday, May 10, the governor's communications director Jacob Elkana, revealed that the Sonko Rescue Team (SRT) had been overwhelmed by the number of emergency requests for food and other essential items not only from the people living in informal settlements but also those belonging to the middle-income category.
"When you go to a place like Kasarani, you will meet a lot of middle-income earners who have not been paid since March or even February and you have to consider something for them even as you reach out to those who have no survival means at all," George Omolo, the operations manager at SRT revealed.
"Our target has been 300 vulnerable families per ward but sometimes we are forced to give more than 1,000 families because the genuine cases in need are more than we think," he added.
SRT has been distributing food to at least 300 residents from every ward and has so far covered six of the 17 constituencies in the capital city.
The constituencies covered so far are Kasarani, Kibera, Makadara, Kamukunji and Starehe.
The next will be Mathare, Embakasi South, Dagoreti North and Embakasi Central, Elkana revealed
Those who work in the hotel industry have also been sending hundreds of food appeals to the SRT, which is now considering targeting 900 families per ward and offer other short-term solutions to suffering residents.
Francis Wambua, who handles food requests, says the SRT receives close to 20,000 food requests a day, with some coming from residents outside Nairobi.
"We could be taking a lot for granted but Kenyans out there are suffering and it's not just Nairobi. We are receiving pleas from as far as Busia and Mombasa and sometimes we are forced to do cash transfers in cases we identify as urgent and serious," he noted.
Governor Sonko announced that he plans to reach each and every family in need within his county.
"We have so far covered five constituencies in food distribution and the exercise is ongoing. Those who have not been reached should be patient because we have plans for all those in need," he stated
He called on residents to strictly adhere to the guidelines and protocols given by the Ministry of Health in fighting the pandemic.
"The best solution is to defeat the pandemic in the shortest time possible and the only way is to religiously follow the guidelines," Sonko added.
He also used his SRT to come to the aid of the thousands who were rendered homeless, following the recent demolitions and evacuation exercise carried out in Kariobangi North.
At least 5,000 people from the area have been given food donations.
"The Kariobangi case is special because we are dealing with people who have no home as we speak and it's quite heart-wrenching that some state mandarins had to do this," Sonko stated.
