Coca-Cola System and Coca-Cola Foundation Respond to Drought Situation

MaryAnne Musilo,

The Coca-Cola system in Kenya, in collaboration with the Company’s Philanthropic arm– The Coca-Cola Foundation, has announced a contribution of USD500,000 (approximately KES61 million) to complement ongoing national drought response interventions in most affected regions of the country.

The donation is set to benefit the drought-stricken counties of Kajiado, Wajir and Mandera through an Integrated Drought Emergency Response Program implemented by The Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, aka CARE International.

The Vice President, of Coca-Cola East and Central Africa Franchise, Ms. Debra Mallowah, met with the Deputy President of Kenya, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, who is coordinating the Kenya Governments drought response, to brief him on the contribution and implementation of the emergency humanitarian donation. Ms. Mallowah was accompanied by leadership of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA)-Kenya.

The program will have a range of interventions to promote household food security, which includes nutrition supplements, improving portable water access, and promoting better hygiene practices, and is set to benefit approximately 50,000 people from 8,333 households for 4 months.

Debra Mallowah, Vice President, of Coca-Cola East and Central Africa Franchise said, “As an organization, we are seeking to enable local communities and the relevant implementing partners use these resources to meet the immediate needs in all affected regions. In line with our company purpose which is to refresh the world and make a difference, we are working with different partners to support efforts to enable the country to adapt to these unexpected shocks and stresses to their livelihoods.”

The Vice President, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, recently led a national appeal, on behalf of the government, to join hands with the government in addressing the drought situation.

The current drought has been the most severe and longest in 70 years, with approximately 4.2 million Kenyans, across 22 Counties currently facing hunger, widespread livelihood losses, and massive displacement. According to a joint statement by the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) Humanitarian Network, the ASAL region of Kenya, has endured three severe droughts in the last decade (2010-2011, 2016-2017, and 2020-2022.

President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg said, “We are committed to support communities that are impacted by natural disasters of this size and magnitude. We are grateful for the inclusive approach and manner being deployed to make a difference in the affected counties”.

CARE International, is one of the organizations conducting humanitarian interventions in affected regions and will deliver emergency relief interventions including access to life-sustaining nutrition supplements, potable water, and promote better hygiene practices for women, men, girls, and boys from the most vulnerable pastoralist and agro-pastoralist areas, contributing to the overall recovery and resilience of these disaster-affected communities.

Speaking about the program, Leah Kaguara – CARE Kenya Country Director, noted, “The current drought has had severe impacts across all sectors of society. From education to loss of economic well-being, communities have been stripped of their dignity due to the worsening impacts of climate change. Through this engagement with TCCF, we will reach the most vulnerable communities with life-sustaining nutrition supplements, improve portable water access, and promote better hygiene practices. This is a step towards alleviating the misery that the affected individuals have experienced and restore in them hope.”

Other actions that the program will implement include ensuring that people receiving assistance have access to the knowledge, skills, and services they need to support their livelihoods and cope; Monitoring the degree to which different groups and individuals accept and have access to humanitarian food security interventions and ensuring that people who receive food assistance are consulted on the design of the response and that they are treated with respect and dignity.