Kenya Red-cross, Friday afternoon, installed the Kericho County Governor, Dr. Eric Mutai, as the County Red- cross Patron, to steer the activities of Red-cross in the County.
Speaking while presiding over the event at the County Government Offices, the Kenya Red-cross Society Board Governor and Chairman, Mr. Geoffrey Korir, said now that Kericho Governor, Mutai, had become the Patron, he will also be able to support Red- cross in scouting for more young volunteers.
“Governor Mutai has promised to also support Red-cross Clubs in Primary, Secondary schools and other learning institutions, as well as colleges and in terms of building the young generation to become volunteers.” Added Korir.
He said all Governors were being inaugurated to be County Red- cross Patrons, while the President is the national Red-cross patron.
“Most people mistake Kenya Red-cross as a Non-Governmental-Organizatio,n which is not the case since it is a statutory public institution through the Kenya Red- cross Act, which was passed by Parliament in 1965,” said Korir.
He further explained that the role of Kenya Red-cross in the country is to be the auxiliary to the national government and the county governments, adding that it has an obligation to support both levels of governments in terms of humanitarian aid, disasters of issues like health and promoting peace building.
“We not only deal with disasters as Kenya Red-cross but also address issues of water and sanitation, health, climate change, food security and irrigation,” Korir said.
By Kibe Mburu and Melvine Chepngetich
