Meet Caroline Makena, the police officer who makes face masks and distributes them for free

A police officer in Elgeyo Marakwet has captured the hearts of many after it emerged that she uses her free time to make face masks which she then distributes for free to area residents in a bid to protect them from the coronavirus.

Constable Caroline Makena, during an interview with the Standard newspaper, said the move was inspired by her own struggle to acquire a face mask when it was made mandatory by the government for everyone to wear them.

According to the 29-year-old, she was forced to send for one in Eldoret town, which is over 100 kilometers away from her station in the remote area of Tot.

Ms. Makena further said undertook the task following Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe’s plea to the youth to take charge of the war against Covid-19.

“It sounded like the CS was addressing me. I did some soul searching and I started laying plans to make masks as my contribution to the fight against the virus,” she told the publication.

Ms. Makena, who learnt of the craft during her stint at the National Youth Service (NYS), hence got a little donation of Ksh.1,000 from her sister who liked her idea and she bought the necessary material needed to make the masks.

“I started by making masks for my colleagues. After that, I discovered that boda boda riders, their passengers and locals in Tot were not wearing masks,” she added.

“When I asked why they were not putting on the protective wear they said masks were not available, that is when I increased production.”

Presently, after completing her police duties including enforcing the curfew, Ms. Makena retreats back to a small office at Tot Police Station where she makes about 50 masks daily for free distribution to the vulnerable in society.

She was posted to the area in 2016 and is the only female police officer out of the dozen in the station.