Rotary District 9212 & Partners Plan New Round of Polio Immunization in Kenya 

As the world commemorated World Polio Day on 24th October under the global theme, “One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio – delivering on our promise of a polio-free world!”, Rotary District 9212 is collaborating with the  Ministry of Health in Kenya and Ethiopia to eradicate the disease.

As the world commemorated World Polio Day on 24th October under the global theme, “One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio – delivering on our promise of a polio-free world!”, Rotary District 9212 collaborating with Kenya’s Ministry of Health to carry out polio immunization in five counties.

``In partnership with the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and the Gates Foundation, Rotary District 9212 will host the Polio Campaign Launch in Migori County,’’ Rotary District 9212 End Polio Committee Chair Yvonne Kimutai said.

``This event will serve as the official kickoff for the five-county immunization campaign covering Migori, Kisumu, Homabay, Narok, and Siaya Counties. It will bring together Rotary, the government and partner organizations for a united public health and awareness effort,’ Kimutai said.

``We are conducting the big catch-up vaccination to target zero doses and under vaccinated children with polio vaccine in order to catch up restore and strengthen routine immunization,’’ according to Kenya’s Ministry of Health. 

In the Rotary year beginning July 2023, Rotarians in Rotary District 9212 contributed $36,885 toward eradication of polio. The contributions increased to $72,857 in the last Rotary year, which ended on June 30, 2025.

Rotarians in Kenya held End Polio walks in different locations across the country. The Nairobi End Polio Walk was held at the University of Nairobi graduation square. Other walks were held in Mombasa and Naivasha, while a walk in Suna, Migori County, is scheduled for November 15, 2025.

The 17 Rotary Clubs at the Kenyan coast will have a walk in Taveta town on October 24, 2025. The following day, the clubs participated in a walk in Mwatate town and set up a free medical camp and polio immunization at Bura Health Centre. To raise funds for polio eradication, the Rotary Club of Kitengela hosted an African culture fashion show on October 18, 2025.

``These walks aim to raise awareness, increase giving, and strengthen Rotary’s visibility at community level,’’ Kimutai said.

In Ethiopia, Rotarians, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO and the diplomatic corp rallied together, raising more than $5,000 and reaffirming their collective resolve to eradicate polio. Ethiopia National PolioPlus Committee Chair Teguest Yilma honored Polio heroes, the late Rotarian Mohammed Idris and Past country Chair Nebiyu Aseferachew.