Slum residents receive food during clean-up drive

A section of Korogocho slums in Nairobi. [David Njaaga, Standard]

Public and private sector players have been urged to support resilience-building initiatives in slum areas to address poverty.

Poverty and the Covid-19 pandemic, corporate officials say, have exposed economic inequalities in urban slums amid the rising cost of living.

The concerns came up during a clean-up exercise in Nairobi's Korogocho and Kariobangi slums organised by sports betting firm 22Bet.

Led by their Chief Operating Officer Felix Mulandi, the firm's employees distributed food items to vulnerable residents.

The firm also distributed free water tanks to residents of the two slums.

"We came here to interact with the residents who are also our customers. We value community service," said Mr Mulandi.

He added: "We know that the cost of living has increased and most families cannot afford food, especially in these communities. That's why we have distributed food to them."

Janet Akinyi, a resident of Kariobangi, said they had had a difficult time for the past year since the cost of unga rose to Sh230.

"We rarely afford three meals a day and this sort of help is assistance like this is welcomed," Akinyi said.