The Kenya Red Cross Society, Kericho Branch, has expanded its outreach by strengthening community-based disaster preparedness and response mechanisms through local resource mobilization initiatives to enhance humanitarian support capacity during emergencies.
This emerged during the Humanity Power Walk held in Kericho town, where hundreds of students, humanitarian volunteers, county officials, and residents participated in a major awareness and fundraising campaign aimed at supporting disaster response activities in Kericho and neighboring counties.
The event, which attracted participants from at least 12 learning institutions including primary schools, secondary schools and colleges, began with a procession through major streets of Kericho town before culminating at Moi Garden where speeches, sensitization forums and award presentations were conducted.
The walk came at a time when humanitarian agencies and county governments are increasingly facing pressure to respond to frequent disasters including floods, fire outbreaks, drowning incidents, landslides and public health emergencies that continue to affect vulnerable communities across different parts of the country.
Speaking during the event, Kenya Red Cross Kericho and Bomet County Coordinator Augustine Korir said the Humanity Power Walk was organized to mobilize local resources to supplement emergency response efforts and strengthen disaster preparedness programmes at the grassroots level.
Korir noted that the organization had deliberately targeted schools and learning institutions in the initiative as part of efforts to inculcate humanitarian values, volunteerism and disaster awareness among young people who remain critical in supporting community resilience during emergencies.
He said the participation of students and teachers demonstrated growing public awareness on the importance of preparedness and collective responsibility in addressing disasters which often leave affected families in urgent need of shelter, food, medical assistance and psychosocial support.
In an interview with Kenya News Agency, Korir explained that the Kenya Red Cross Society remains one of the leading humanitarian organizations in the country with the mandate of responding to disasters, saving lives and alleviating human suffering during emergencies.
He said the organization works closely with national and county governments, local communities and development partners in areas of emergency rescue operations, first aid response, water and sanitation services, environmental conservation, disease prevention, disaster risk reduction and public health interventions.
“Red Cross exists to serve humanity and support people affected by disasters and emergencies. We also continue to work with communities on disaster preparedness and mitigation so as to reduce the impact of calamities whenever they occur,” said Korir.
Founded through an Act of Parliament in 1965, the Kenya Red Cross Society has over the years expanded its operations across the country through volunteer networks and branch offices that provide rapid response services during emergencies such as floods, road accidents, fires, disease outbreaks and displacement crises.
The organization has also continued to strengthen youth engagement programmes in schools and colleges through Red Cross clubs which train learners on leadership, emergency response skills, first aid and humanitarian service.
Representing Kericho Governor, Eric Mutai, County Executive Committee Member for Public Service Management, Jonathan Korir, said the county government would continue collaborating with the Kenya Red Cross in strengthening disaster management structures within the county.
Korir said Kericho County had continued to experience disasters such as drowning incidents, fire outbreaks and landslides, hence the need for stronger partnerships between humanitarian agencies and government institutions in improving emergency preparedness and response capacity.
He noted that the county’s Disaster Management Unit has been working closely with Red Cross personnel through technical training and knowledge-sharing programmes aimed at equipping response teams with skills necessary in handling emergencies.
The CEC member further observed that climate change and rapid population growth were contributing to increased disaster risks in many regions, making disaster preparedness and community sensitization programmes more important than ever before.
Kericho Red Cross Board Chair, Helen Ngeno, urged members of the public to actively support humanitarian activities through local donations and volunteer initiatives in order to strengthen emergency response programmes within the county.
Ngeno said many people wrongly perceive humanitarian support as a responsibility of multinational organizations and foreign donors, yet local community contributions play a critical role in sustaining emergency interventions during disasters.
She emphasized that even small contributions collected from many people could help the organization raise adequate resources to support vulnerable families affected by emergencies and humanitarian crises.
Ngeno further encouraged residents to partner with the Kenya Red Cross through community engagement programmes, saying collective participation remains key in building resilient communities capable of responding effectively to disasters.
The event also saw participating schools, volunteers and stakeholders recognized through award presentations for their contribution towards humanitarian activities and disaster awareness campaigns.
The Humanity Power Walk not only served as a fundraising platform but also reinforced the urgent need for stronger community participation in disaster preparedness, response and humanitarian support amid rising emergency cases across the country.
by Gilbert Mutai
