COVID-19: Ol Kalou man writes Uhuru a cheque

By Lynn Mwangi in Nyandarua County

A middle-aged man from Ol Kalou Town in Nyandarua County has donated Ksh10, 500 to the COVID-19 management kitty.

David Ndung’u Wanjohi, a businessman who owns an electronics shop in Ol Kalou, chose a rather unusual manner of making his contribution -- writing President Uhuru Kenyatta a Ksh10, 500 cheque.

Not being in a position to know the Head of State’s bank account number, let alone the exact commercial bank that he is a client of, Wanjohi chose to write a bearer’s cheque to the president.

A bearer’s cheque is one that is considered to be owned by the person who has it in their possession. It can be transferred to another person. The transferor of cheque while passing the cheque does not need to endorse the cheque. The bank does not need any identification proof while presenting a bearer cheque for encashment. However, if the cheque amount is substantial the bank may ask for the identification to confirm the same.

Wanjohi’s cheque drawn at Family Bank was dated April 3, 2020.

The businessman said he arrived at the Ksh10, 500 figure after calculating the foodstuff five low-income families in Kenya would -- averagely -- need for a month.

He settled on the amount after factoring in the following goods: a 90-kg bag of maize, a 45-kg bag of beans, a 50-kg bag of rice, 2kgs cooking fat, 2 bars of soap, salt, tea leaves, 5kgs sugar and Ksh1, 000 for cooking fuel, all totaling to Ksh10, 360.

Wanjohi, evidently, has kind intentions. The big question is: will he manage to give the president the cheque?

"I wish President Kenyatta receives the money, and channels it to the COVID-19 management fund. My action was inspired by the desire to help the Government at a time of crisis such as this one. My thinking is: we shouldn't always wait for the Government to help; where we, as citizens, can, should chip in," Wanjohi told K24 Digital.