E-Malt.com News article: Kenya: East African Breweries to spend Sh5 million on Muthurwa market project

East African Breweries Limited will spend Sh5 million towards the construction of toilets, shower rooms and water points at the city’s Muthurwa market and bus terminus to serve hawkers, their clients and commuters, Business Daily Africa reported May 12.

The ablution block will complement three toilets built at the time of construction of the market, but which are stretched to capacity due to the huge population presence.

EABL managing director Gerald Mahinda said the project was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme, ran under the EABL Foundation, which focuses on provision of clean water to low income groups, education of poor but bright students and addressing environmental concerns.

“We have decided to support several water sanitation projects in several low income areas to alleviate problems that come with drinking or use of unclean water,” said Mr Mahinda.

He said that according to their plan, EABL Foundation will provide at least 350,000 people across the country with access to clean water before the end of the year.

It is estimated that up to 100, 000 people visit the market and the bus terminus daily. The project will be run through Maji na Ufanisi civil group, the hawkers association and the Nairobi City Council.

Speaking at the same function Steward Fletcher, the president of Diageo International — EABL’s main business partner — said a plan to supply at least 100 million people in Sub Saharan Africa with clean water annually was under way.

“We have focused on provision of clean water to the poor and the marginalised in line with the millennium development goals set awhile back,” said Mr Fletcher.

Betty Muraguri, the chairperson of Maji na Ufanisi, said the organisation will put in place prudent management systems that will take care of the day to day cleanliness and maintenance of the facility.

EABL dedicates one per cent of its annual profits to corporate social responsibility through the EABL foundation.

The Muthurwa Market project was completed this year and hawkers relocated from Nairobi’s central business district to the premises. It also serves as a matatu terminus, serving mainly commuters from the Eastlands part of the city.


13 May, 2008