SPEECH BY MS ANNE WAIGURU, OGW, CABINET SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF

DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING DURING THE CELEBRATIONS OF WORLD RED

CROSS DAY AND KENYA RED CROSS 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT
THE KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS CENTRE ON FRIDAY MAY 8,
2015
Your Excellency, The President of the Republic of Kenya H.E Uhuru Kenyatta
The Governor, Kenya Red Cross, Dr. Mahamud Said
The Secretary General Dr. Abass Gullet
The National Executive Committee
Cabinet Secretaries
Principal Secretaries
Corporate Representatives
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Your Excellency,
I am honoured to be here today as we celebrate the World Red Cross Day and mark 50
years of service to the people of Kenya by the Kenya Red Cross Society. 50 years is a
major milestone for any institution and signifies a journey of commitment, resilience
and diligence. I take this earliest opportunity to convey my congratulations to the Kenya
Red Cross Society, as it marks its golden jubilee on this day.
Humanitarian support interventions are often carried out in extreme circumstances, as
the much needed help must reach the affected urgently to mitigate further loss of lives
or property. The role of the Kenya Red Cross Society, an auxiliary to the Government of
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Kenya in responding to humanitarian crisis and disasters has been key and well
received by the people of Kenya. Like any other country in Africa and the World, Kenya
has suffered its fair share of unfortunate disasters and the Kenya Red Cross Society in
collaboration with the Government of Kenya has been at the forefront providing
humanitarian assistance with the aim of saving lives, alleviating suffering and
maintaining human dignity.
Key among this initiatives include; the Kenyan for Kenyan Campaign held in 2007, this
campaigned raised more than I billion Kenya shillings that was used to provide
humanitarian assistance to communities in the arid and semi arid areas that had been
worst affected by drought; support provided during the post election violence of
2007/2008, support during the Westgate and Garissa attacks, as well as the peace
initiative in Tana Delta following the Tana River clashes of August 2012.
Your Excellency
The Ministry of Devolution and Planning is mandated with the responsibility of
coordination, formulation and implementation of policies and institutional frameworks,
for disaster management, risk reduction programs, relief and rehabilitation and national
food security. In addition the Government of Kenya has committed to ending drought
emergencies in Kenya by 2022 in recognition of the fact that drought emergencies can
be prevented with timely and appropriate action. The Ending Drought Emergency
Strategy is multi-sectorial and requires the participation of a wide range of players,
including the Government, Non-State actors, development partners, private sector and
communities.
Your Excellency, I am happy to note that the Kenya Red Cross Society is playing its part
and is complimented Governments efforts by working with communities through
various initiatives, such as the Kenya Drought Initiative Projects in Turkana, East Pokot,
Markwet, Garissa, Siaya, Samburu, Mandera, Kitui and Moyale, with the aim of
improving food security and livelihoods. Some of the activities in these projects include

drilling of boreholes, mobilizing communities into enterprise agriculture and training

communities on basic farming skills.
Additionally, the Kenya Red Cross Society is one of the lead agencies, which distributes
food on behalf of the World Food Program to the arid and semi-arid counties. In some
counties it is also the lead agency for the Food and Cash Transfer Assets Programme,
implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Devolution and Planning and World
food Programme to help communities build and develop assets which are the
foundation of sustainable livelihoods.

The Kenya Red Cross Society is also a key

member of various Government coordination structures that have been put in place to
assess and mitigate humanitarian crisis in all the 47 counties.
Your Excellency
Humanitarian emergencies require close coordination and better communication among
different ministries and relevant stakeholders to ensure the responses are more
comprehensive and effective. The coordination of resources is also key to maximize
response and minimize duplication. It is in view of this that the Ministry of Devolution
and Planning is committed to strengthening the working structures with the Kenya Red
Cross Society to ensure efficient and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Your Excellency
As I conclude, I wish to also take this opportunity to applaud the staff and volunteers of
the Kenya Red Cross Society who have tirelessly worked to provide humanitarian
assistance to those in need and have often put their lives in harms way to save the life
of another Kenyan, this is a clear demonstration of our commitment as Kenyans to be
our brothers keeper in times of need.
It is now my humble duty to welcome you, your Excellency to give your address.