Flood-hit Kenya to receive assistance from China

Aid worth 370 million Kenyan shillings ($2.8 million) from China is due to arrive in Kenya to assist in restoration from the recent floods that affected the East African country.

On Friday, Minister Counselor at the Chinese embassy in Kenya Zhang Zhizhong said two ships carrying 2,040 metric tons of aid are currently en route to Kenya's port city of Mombasa and will dock in the early weeks of June.

Zhang was speaking at an event where the Chinese embassy handed over more than $38,000 to MCEDO Beijing School, in Mathare slums in Nairobi, to aid reconstruction following the devastating floods. The school was flooded when the nearby Mathare River broke its banks in April.

"This gesture symbolizes the deep friendship between China and Kenya and reflects the compassion of the Chinese people for their Kenyan counterparts. We hope that the students here will excel in their studies and grow to become pillars of strength for their families and their country," Zhang said.

The donations will go toward the renovation of the school and the provision of desks, chairs, and books. In addition, every student will be given a new backpack to restart their studies.

The latest data released by the United Nations indicate that an estimated 291 people have been killed while more than 280,000 people in Kenya have been displaced since the onset of heavy rains in March which continued into May.

In Nairobi, about 3,000 people have been sheltered in temporary evacuation centers while a majority of the 65,493 affected people had been integrated with the community as of mid-May.

Elijah Mungai, director of projects at Kenya's Ministry of Education, thanked China for the timely response to the humanitarian crisis.

"The floods caught us at a time when we were just about to open schools. Therefore, there was a need to give hope and when you join us in giving hope to those who were affected, we feel like you are meeting us at the place of need," Mungai said.

In addition to supporting the rebuilding of MCEDO Beijing School, Mungai lauded the Chinese embassy in Kenya for continually offering scholarships to children from informal settlements.

"We want to appreciate that you chose Mathare, a slum area that requires to be empowered. When you empower them, you empower a very vulnerable part of our society. We will forever remember the People's Republic of China for the opportunities you have given to these children," Mungai said.

Zhang said 39 students from the MCEDO Beijing School are set to benefit from scholarships from the embassy this year.

The school has been supported by the Chinese embassy since 2007, helping thousands of students. It currently has an enrollment of more than 500 students.