New Kid On The Block Wins Big At District Awards
By Rtn Caroline Njiru
The Rotary Club of Kitengela (RCK) clinched several Sam Owori awards including the much-coveted Membership of the Year Award and the Excellence in Public Image Award at the just concluded 2021 District Conference ceremony. The event, which was streamed virtually using interactive digital conference technology, saw almost 600 people attend the ceremony.
The late PDG Sam Owori for whom the District 9212 Awards are named.
- The young club that was chartered in 2018 also received recognition for having chartered a Rotary club (Rotary Club of Athi River) and Rotaract Club (Rotaract Club of Athi River) within the 2020/21 Rotary year. Other categories that RCK was awarded was for was being one of the clubs that gave over $3,000 to The Rotary Foundation, being an all giving club, one of the clubs with the highest number of new Rotarians and having an attendance of 80% at least once in the year.
Speaking as he announced the winners, District Governor Patrick Obath commended Rotary clubs for their admirable work during the year and adaptability to the Covid 19 pandemic situation by embracing online platforms. The Annual District 9212 Sam Owori Awards are held annually with the aim of recognizing outstanding Rotary, and Rotaract clubs who have performed exemplarily in the Rotary year. The awards are named for the late RI President Elect Sam Owori who was slated to be the 108th Rotary International President; the second African ever in the position. Unfortunately he passed away in 2017, a few months before he could serve his term. The annual award continues to honour his service to community.
RCK Club President, Dr. Patrisio Njeru attributed the success of the club this year to planning, following through and team work. According to Njeru, education and involvement of club members in the club activities boosted morale and increased the service of members. The club has managed to increase impact to community through service projects in the areas of WASH, environment, disease prevention, education and economic empowerment. Many of the club members were quick to laud Dr. Njeru for his leadership in steering the club to increasing impact.
Achieving the awards was no feat. RCK was able to expand its Public image during the year by launching a popular club newsletter dubbed “Olerai” that highlighted the clubs activities to both Rotarians and non Rotarians, “Olerai” which means Acacia tree in the local dialect Maasai is symbolic of the indigenous tree under which the local community sits to receive news. The club also launched a website www. rotarykitengela.org, increased visibility on its social media pages and created awareness through features on national newspapers, television and radio.
RCK also had an extensive membership plan in a bid to play their part in growing Rotary within the community. These efforts saw the club grow its own membership from 32 to 45 within the year and charter a new Rotaract club with 33 members in October 2020 and a new Rotary club with 29members in March 2021.
