Kisumu County Government has been challenged to consider budgetary allocations for humanitarian and disaster management.
Kenya Red Cross (KRC) officials from Western region say it is important that government systems embrace humanitarian activities spearheaded by KRC in order to serve the common interest of those in need of the services.
West Kenya Region KRC chairman GPO Onyango said there is urgent need for the county governments to allocate some funds for the organisation.
“We want the county government and local politicians to embrace what we do so that they can be part and parcel of our activities. Red Cross services should be seen as a supplementary service from that of the government and not a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) it is a part of the government system,” he said.
Onyango said they are in talks with the county government to allow them address its assembly in a bid to convince them to be members of the organisation so that they get to understand the importance of disaster management and preparedness.
"Every MCAs in this region should be a life member of Red Cross Kenya. If they were life members they would be supplementing budget to achieve goals in disaster management," he said.
He added, “There is urgent need to sensitise the community about our operations and it starts with the area leaders. As we mark 50 years today, leaders from around here are conspicuously missing from this function. This is why we need the attitude change.”
He was speaking at Nyamasao Primary School in Kisumu County during the 50 years commemoration ceremony on Friday where integrated medical services were provided to the local community in Nyando Sub County.
The medical outreach which reached over 2,000 people involved tests for common infections, delivery of medication, family planning services and shoe distribution to three primary schools.