KENYA – East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has committed Sh50 million (US$0.47m) to fund the production of 135,000 litres of sanitisers by two Nairobi-based industries to distribute free sanitisers to vulnerable Kenyans.
EABL Foundation Trustee Eric Kiniti said, “We have engaged certified sanitizer producers to produce for us hand sanitizers for distribution to vulnerable groups and those at risk of exposure.”
Kiniti said the distribution specifically targets EABL staff, communities in water-scarce parts of the country as well as informal settlements and areas that have challenges accessing piped water.
“We shall be engaging our sales personnel on the ground as well as distributors to ensure the sanitizers get to the most vulnerable groups, mainly those who do not have access to water and good sanitation,” he said.
EABL has also been helping drive public awareness about coronavirus by printing posters for distribution to more than 40,000 outlets across Kenya.
This initiative is part of the larger drive conducted by EABL’s parent company, Diageo across the globe.
Diageo has pledged to enable the creation of more than 8 million bottles of hand sanitizer to help protect frontline healthcare workers in the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
To achieve this, the world’s leading distiller revealed that it will be donating up to two million litres of alcohol to manufacturing partners in the UK, Ireland, Italy, USA, Brazil, Kenya, India and Australia.
Diageo said that it will provide Grain Neutral Spirit (GNS) – a 96% strength ethyl alcohol used primarily in production of vodka and gin – and make it available at no cost to hand sanitizer producers in the countries.
The donation is expected to enable the production of more than eight million 250ml bottles of hand sanitizer to help overcome shortages in healthcare systems.
The company says that it is engaging with national and local governments across various countries where the company has major distilling operations.
The plan includes supplying 500,000 litres of GNS in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, 100,000 litres of GNS in Italy, 500,000 litres in USA, 50,000 litres of spirit in Brazil and support the production of 135,000 litres of sanitizer in Kenya.
The company is also supply 500,000 litres of alcohol to the sanitizer industry across 25 States in India and further produce 100,000 litres of ethanol for the Queensland Government in Australia.
Diageo said that the spirit will be made available in supply chains according to local circumstances.
Other companies in Kenya who have volunteered to produce the alcohol-based sanitisers to meet the high demand include Vivo Energy Kenya, Total and Ola Energy (formerly OiLibya).
The three major oil marketers are expected to produce at least 20,000 litres of sanitisers daily to support the government’s fight against the spread of coronavirus.
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