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The exercise follows calls by the National Government to Kenyans to minimize movement and avoid crowded places as part of the measures to check the spread of Covid-19 in the Country – a fact Governor Wangamati noted had affected businesses and livelihoods of residents.

“As a result of some of the measures in place to check the spread of Coronavirus, businesses and other sources of income in the County have suffered a great deal – exposing our people to the real danger of starvation, especially if we do not get to the end of this pandemic soon enough,” Governor Wangamati said.

“As a Government, we are working in collaboration with the Red Cross, the National Chamber of Commerce and the National Government to provide food support to some of the vulnerable households across the County,” he added.

According to Governor Wangamati, the first phase of this plan will see some 6,000 households receive a food pack estimated to last them a month.

“Today, we are flagging off the distribution of food subsidies donated by the Bungoma County Business Community to some 500 households of the 6,000 households,” he said.

Each of the 500 households will receive 20kgs of flour, 2litres of cooking oil, 2kgs of rice, 2kgs of sugar, 1 bar soap and I litre of sanitiser.

By Governor Wangamati’s own account, the County has planned to distribute food aid to an estimated 120,000 vulnerable households in the County in the second phase.

The process of identifying vulnerable households, still an ongoing exercise, is being undertaken by the Red Cross, the County Government and National Government.

Today’s distribution targeted informal settlements in Bungoma town, Webuye, Kimilili, Chwele and Kapsokwony in Mt Elgon.

The Governor said next week, the County will be flagging yet another consignment of food aid to cover all the wards of the County.

He called on well-wishers to step in and help contribute towards saving vulnerable residents.

He said the County will receive donations in kind while all moneys shall be channeled through a committee chaired by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce to:

#ACC NO: 01141425861800

#PAYBILL: 400200

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To ensure business continuity, having an emergency plan is essential. In the current situation, it is vital to react as fast as possible in order to mitigate against impact and other risks and to prepare organizations for the further escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the scenarios that may unfold.

This disruptive business environment emphasizes the need for businesses to put in place robust business continuity plans (BCPs), which anticipate a broad range of events that could create severe disruption for the business.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has been in the forefront in proposing  both short and long term measures to support the  Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) particularly at the County level to continue with their business activities with minimal interruptions and ensure sustainability.  To lessen the risk of business discontinuity, KNCCI lead by its President Mr. Richard Ngatia today held a virtual discussion with its selected County chairmen (Mombasa, Narok, Nyandarua and Bungoma) and in absentia, H. E Dr. Wycliffe Wangamati; Governor Bungoma County to discuss:

• Intervention measures and mechanism adopted to ensure Business Continuity
• Policies effected to enhance Business Sustainability
• Market intervention and protection of the value chain aggregators
• Cross boarder challenges
• Rent and Labour Protection measures

1. Intervention Measures and Mechanisms adopted by the Counties to ensure Business Continuity

• Installation of sensitization and fumigated booths for Mombasa – Likoni Ferry users.
• Sensitization of business communities on sanitization, social distancing, masks wearing and hand washing.
• Fumigation of open air markets
• Digging of boreholes to ensure free and efficient water to the communities.

2. Policies effected to enhance business sustainability

The county chapters have each in their own capacities collaborated with County governments to:

• Waiver fee on all taxes for the hotel Industry and transportation (Mombasa)
• Implementation of food relief programs; Mombasa chapter in collaboration with Mombasa County Government has launched a Household and nutrition program to help provide food of nutritional value to vulnerable groups affected during this pandemic. On the other hand, Bungoma chapter in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society of Kenya and the County Government of Bungoma has a fundraising kitty (Donating in kind) to help distribute food to its community.
• Extension of single business permits and licenses to small business traders and public service vehicles providing essential goods and services.

3. Cross Boarder Issues

• Contributing to this, KNCCI Mombasa chapter chair Mr. Mustapha stated that the chapter has collaborated with the County Government to streamline the movement of essential goods and services in and out of Mombasa. The County has also ensured that all medical equipment and PPE s are given first priority at the port of Mombasa when it comes to clearance.
• In Bungoma, the chapter through the County Government has ensured that the Uganda boarder remains operational to allow provision and constant flow of essential goods and services.

4. Rent and Labour Protection Measures

On the issue on rent to pay or not, the County chapter chairmen suggested that for this to happen:

• The national government should waiver all taxes for landlords for at least size months or a year.
• Banks to temporarily stop charging interests and also delay principal charges on all loans owed by the landlords.
• Actions to Support SMEs
• Encourage SMEs to adopt e-commerce
• Banks and other online lenders to roll over loans owned by SMEs to June 2020 to allow SMEs continue doing business.

5. KNCCI Women in Business Contribution

In her remarks, Women in Business chairperson Ms. Nato stressed that;

• Women be appointed to the response committee at each county.
• Women be involved in the identification process of vulnerable groups that needs support during this pandemic.
• Nato said that the WIB committee has come up with “Support a tailor to support a retailer” initiative to support the fashion industry and retailers by producing masks that are in return distributed to small business owners.

H.E Governor Dr. Wycliffe Wangamati: County Government of Bungoma statement National Economic and Business Response

1. Need to cushion employees on possibility of loss of income.

Initiative

1. Increase Disposable Income to Kenyans. Actions are as below:
2. 100% Tax relief for persons earning gross monthly income of up to Ksh. 24,000
3. Reduction of P.A.Y.E from 30% to 25%
4. Reduction of Corporation tax from 30% to 25%
5. Reduction of Turnover Tax from 3% to 1% for all MSMEs.
6. Need to cushion and support the elderly, orphans and other vulnerable members of society.

The government to give an additional 10 billion to the elderly of which Ksh. 8.5 have been disbursed.

1. Need to increase access to credit for business: the government has temporarily suspended listing with Credit Reference Bureau.
2. Resource Mobilization: Need to facilitate the functioning of the National Response to COVID-19 committees. All coordinated National Response Committees to provide their resource requirements. This has been done by successfully establishing a COVID-19 response fund and so far funds collected amount to Ksh. 1 billion.

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The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) and East African Philanthropy Network (EAPN) on April 21, 2020 held a webinar and open discussion to deliberate on Food Security during the COVID19 Pandemic in Kenya. The panelists for this session were: Prof. Hamadi Iddi Boga, Principal Secretary State Department for Crop Development and Agriculture Research, Mr. Arif Neky, Advisor for strategic Partnerships at the UN Resident Coordinators office in Kenya and Mr. Francis Gitonga, Chairman, Agricultural Committee- KNCCI. The session was moderated by Mr. Evans Okinyi- C.E.O. -EAPN.

The joint initiative was in solidarity with the National efforts, supporting government’s intervention and priority areas. Besides the concentrated focus on health care provisions and systems, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) warns that if proper measures are not put in place the situation could lead to a food security crisis. Furthermore, the World Food Programme (WFP) warns that African countries would face disproportionate risk from supply chain failures especially in the face of border-crossing closures.

The impacts of farmers leaving their fields fallow due to of illness and breakdowns in non-food supply chains, like fertilizer and other critical inputs, may ultimately impact developing-countries’ economies. On the demand side, WFP notes there could be a loss of purchasing power as a result of people’s eating patterns leading to poorer nutrition, panic purchases of food likely to break the supply chain and eventually price hikes.

In light of this, EAPN and KNCCI deliberated on the following two key agenda items:

• The Impact of COVID19 Pandemic on Food Security in Kenya: Situation Analysis and Projections
• Securing Livelihoods – Best Joint Interventions for the Most Vulnerable Populations.
• The Impact of COVID19 Pandemic on Food Security in Kenya: Situation Analysis and Projections

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives calls on farmers and agriculture stakeholders to intensify production and to coordinate efforts to ensure timely availability of inputs, extension support, transportation and value addition as the planting season commences.

In his remarks, Principle Secretary, Prof. Boga, said, the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Council of Governors had released an update on the national food balance sheet with projected stocks up to June 2020, with keen focus in the following produce Cassava, Irish potato, Rice, Maize, Pulses, Wheat, Bananas (matoke), Millet, Sorghum, Milk, Meat, Fish, Local vegetables and Fortified food.

He went on to say, “In a bid to minimize disruptions to the food chain and we have put in place a COVID-19 Food Security War Room to swiftly address any emerging issues to ensure: –

• Continuous flow of produce
• Minimal disruption of markets
• Pricing management
• Maintain sufficient stock
• Maintain support of inputs
• Limit disruption to export market
• Support farmers in the mitigation of impact of locust.

Boga called on those present to gear up support for the vulnerable communities. He said the number of vulnerable will increase from the approximately 5.8 million already identified and categorized as “needy population” and support needs to be channeled for their support. He also called for support in educating and supplying small traders in markets, the Boda Boda who rely on daily wages to earn a living, to comply with the COVID -19 guidelines and directives issued by the Ministry of Health.

Securing Livelihoods – Best Joint Interventions for the Most Vulnerable Populations

The number of vulnerable Kenyans will likely to increase during this pandemic. During the meeting, approximately 5.8 million Kenyans, especially in the urban areas will be affected.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Arif Neky said “There is need to create an ecosystem of partnerships towards the achievement of the Government’s Big4agenda, especially in the food and security sector.” The private sector Food and Security Window system ( a collaboration between KEPSA, KNCCI and AGRA) and the launch of the Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) as the sector apex body for the agriculture sector and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Platform window on food and nutrition security was a good step towards the protection and development of the agricultural sector as this will create a clear roadmap for the next 3years in strengthening food and nutrition. He added.

Echoing these sentiments, Ms. Nemaisa Kiereini, KNCCI special programs and donor liaison stated that Chamber is already partnering with organizations such as the fashion industry and RetailPay to provide the vulnerable industries such as Boda Bodas and small markets with masks, water and soap for sanitization as well as sensitizing them on social distancing. Through this, it ensures that we create jobs opportunities for women and youth, she stated.

3. Locust Invasion

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major cause of worry for farmers in Kenya unable to sell their produce and things have become more difficult in areas affected by locusts. This could have adverse impacts on the agricultural seasonal yields and local economies, affecting food security. Hamadi, in his statement said that the government through the Ministry has put on measures like aerial spraying to help manage the situation. The Ministry of Agriculture and collaborators at the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), The National Youth Service (NYS) and the County governments are in 13 severely affected counties responding to the locust issue and continue to support the farmers and livestock keepers to continue their production activities so as to ensure that the critical lifeline of food. Key focus is ensuring:

• That global supply chain is constant
• Promoting large scale farming and use public land
• Adopting new technologies like aqua culture and marine culture while it comes to fishing as opposed to traditional ways of fishing.
• Lowering the prices of animal feeds and fertilizers

4. Commitments

All Philanthropy and Business partners agreed to come together and work towards narrowing the gap of food and security issues during this period.

Ensure that the 5.8 million vulnerable Kenyans “Needy Population”, are cushioned during this pandemic, through individual and collective efforts guaranteeing access to food and clean water for all vulnerable communities

EAPN, KNNCI Members and Partners will continue to collect relevant and timely data on member activities and programs concerning aspects of market access and vulnerability of urban market traders. This will be shared with the Ministry to feed into the situation room at the MoALF for continued assessment and support to the necessary links between traders and farmers of food products for immediate consumption.

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