Equity CEO James Mwangi Donates Sh120 Million to Help Kenyans Facing Starvation

Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi has donated $1 million (Sh120 million) to help support families affected by the ongoing drought in the country.

Speaking on Saturday during a consultative meeting presided over by President Ruto to discuss the current drought situation, Mwangi urged the government to come up with a lasting solution to the menace.

 “It appears it’s a perennial issue so why don’t we look for a permanent solution? On behalf of my family and the Equity group on matching grant through the Equity Foundation, I will give $1 million,” Mwangi said.

While calling on development partners to step in and help the government to alleviate the suffering of starving Kenyans, President Ruto said the drought has affected 5.1 million people and decimated 2.5 million livestock.

“We are in a very precarious situation. 20 counties have been affected... We are facing the fourth consecutive season of rain failure. We have a huge population of our country without food,” said Ruto.

“I request all over us to bend over backward and see what we can do. As the government, we have to plan ahead of time. We could have done better and I promise that going to the future, we will be better prepared to change this situation. It will cease being an emergency.”

On Friday, the Kenya Red Cross Society in partnership with the cereals millers association flagged off relief food to more than 60,000 learners across 150 schools in nine counties in order to keep them in school during the examination period.