One of Kenya’s largest manufacturers of edible oil, Pwani Oil Refineries have announced the reduction of prices for its products including soap in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.
The manufacturer says that this is in the effort to ensure that Kenyans protect themselves against coronavirus which has hit Kenya with three confirmed cases hitherto.
Rajul Malde, Pwani Oil Commercial Director said that Diva, Sawa and Detrex – its soap products – and Fresh Fri cooking oil will retail at a reduced price of 5 percent.
He added that the firm will provide 150 handwashing kits in major towns across the country with Mombasa, Nairobi, Kisumu, Nyeri and Nakuru being the first beneficiaries.
“As a business that cares for the well-being of our consumers, we are alive to the serious health challenge posed by the spread of the coronavirus globally,” Malde said as quoted by Citizen Digital.
The government while issuing precautionary measures towards protecting themselves against coronavirus cited that handwashing was a key measure towards killing the virus.
So far, more than 6,000 people across the world have died of coronavirus while a further 169,000 are battling the deadly ailment.
Kenya has confirmed three cases of coronavirus already and the patients have been quarantined at the Mbagathi Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospitals. The two facilities have set up the Infectious Diseases Section otherwise referred to as isolation wards.
Kenyans have been urged to maintain hygiene, avoid handshakes, hugging and crowded places.
Public transport operators have also been asked to sterilize their vehicles after every trip, a directive which they say is “irrational and untenable”.