The philanthropy of Kenya’s billionaires has always gone unnoticed but yesterday Equity Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director James Mwangi’s family donated Sh300 million for Covid-19 kitty.
Dr. Mwangi’s donation is part of the Sh1.1 billion the Equity Group Foundation and Mastercard have pledged to the country’s Covid-19 response fund.
His donation is one of the biggest personal gifts in the history of public benevolence in Kenya. In an unprecedented move, the contribution was buttressed by Sh500 million magnanimity from the Mastercard Foundation and Sh300 million from Equity Bank.
This is not the first time Dr. Mwangi has made such donations, having given Sh100 million in 2013 to Meru University to develop an innovation and entrepreneurship centre.
On Wednesday, April 29, the Equity Bank said the funds will go towards the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline medical personnel dealing with Covid-19 patients in public hospitals.
Speaking while announcing the initiative, Mwangi said it started when his attention was drawn to a group of students and doctors who were raising funds for PPEs for young post-graduate students especially in Kenyatta National and Referral Hospital (KNH).
“When I shared the need with my family, a robust discussion revealed the urgency to holistically address the issue as it was not prudent to provide the PPEs to students without also focusing on the plight of the doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and medical staff,” said Mwangi who is a member of Kenya’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund Board.
