By Meshack Ngangi

June 11, 2024

The Co-operative University of Kenya hosted the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Co-operatives, Mr. Patrick Kilemi, who officiated the 2024 Pre-Ushirika Day Celebrations Ushirika Blood Donation Drive. The PS lauded the University’s role in realizing the 7th Cooperative Principle, Concern for the Community. Mr. Kilemi challenged the co-operative movement in the country to rally efforts in support of the health sector to supplement the dire need for blood in the national blood banks managed by the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service, an organ under the National Tissue and Transplant Authority.

The PS reiterated that blood donation is not only an ultimate sacrifice and an act of charity that transcends any donation one can give but also a lifeline that sustains communities. This statement reinstated the co-operative’s role of transforming communities and ensuring sustainable economic empowerment, starting with movement membership. In his remarks, PS Kilemi expressed great satisfaction with the initiative to host the Ushirika Blood Donation in June, the same month the World Health Organization commemorates World Blood Donor Day on 14 June.

PS Kilemi outrightly congratulated multi-partner efforts The National Council for Ushirika Day Celebrations adopted through the Chairmanship of Mr. Macloud Malonza for organizing the blood donation that answers the pertinent healthcare challenge. He noted that the forged relations among the partner organizations, the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya, Red Cross Society of Kenya, Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority, and The Co-operative University of Kenya should be sustained to bring more success to the co-operative sector and significantly impact the society.

The State Department of Co-operatives head outlined that since they took office with the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development, Hon. Simon Chelugui, they have made The Co-operative University of Kenya their center of operations due to the institution’s robust foundation on the principles of co-operatives. He challenged CAK’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Daniel Marube, to take the initiative to sponsor needy students at the university whenever they have the necessary resources. 

Further, PS Kilemi revealed that the Government, through the National Treasury, had approved the State Department’s request to recruit officers through the Public Service Commission (PSC), adding that they would prioritize competently trained degree holders from The Co-operative University of Kenya. 

During the day’s event, the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya’s CEO, Mr. Daniel Marube, expressed that Ushirika Blood Donation is an annual event that seeks to ensure the co-operative’s goal and principle of concern for others (community) adheres to the latter. In his briefing, he underscored the 500-pint blood target of the University-hosted blood drive, a precursor to the International Day for Co-operatives that will be celebrated on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre under the theme, “Co-operatives Build a Better Future for All.” 

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of The Co-operative University of Kenya, Prof. Kamau Ngamau, expressed the great honour the University has of hosting the 2024 Ushirika Blood Donation Drive and challenged the 10,000-plus student population to reciprocate by turning up in large numbers for this life-saving initiative. “It has been reported that we have a very serious shortage of blood in our blood banks where it is said that with our population, we should have at least one million pints of blood donated annually, but we are very far from that,” exclaimed Prof. Ngamau.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance Planning and Administration, Prof. Esther Gicheru, Nairobi and Eastern Regional Manager for Kenya National Blood Transfusion Services Festus Koech, Officers from the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development, and our University staff and students were present at the blood donation drive.

The Ushirika Blood Donation Drive 2024 was covered by several media outlets including;

Kenya News Agency, Hope TV, WesTV, Capital FM, and KASS FM. 

Hope TV, https://www.youtube.com/live/2HkEVkzusOA?si=j86lB_QNLHwerdVY 

WesTv; https://www.youtube.com/live/m47RAjr7Blg?si=RqaBExYfHNhuJPcD

KASS FM; https://www.facebook.com/share/v/A92UzyLFchVLdqHz/?mibextid=qi2Omg