Isaac Rutto’s daughter’s fundraising nets Sh8m for Bomet cancer ward
Council of Governors chairman Isaac Rutto on Friday pledged to establish a cancer treatment centre in Bomet county.
“As a family we are going to increase our commitment towards establishing the facility in the memory of our only daughter,” Rutto said at Emily’s funeral service at Nairobi Central SDA church.
He said contributions by friends and relatives to support the project had exceeded Sh8 million by Friday.
Rutto said it was a coincidence that the Bomet County Assembly passed a Bill to establish a cancer treatment center the same day his daughter died. He said the county would facilitate and train more doctors to tackle the killer disease.
Emily Chepng’etich died of blood cancer on October 24. She was diagnosed on October 16 and admitted at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi on October 18. She was discharged after two days but was readmitted on October 22 when her condition deteriorated.
Cord leader Raila Odinga said at the service that losing a young hero whom he shared a career with was unfortunate. Emily was an electrical engineer with the Geothermal Development Company in Nakuru.
“Engineers are more learned than lawyers and the death of my Emmy whom I call my daughter is so devastating,” he said.
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Nandi county governor Cleophas Lagat, Kiambu county governor William Kabogo, Deputy majority leader Naomi Shaban, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, Beatrice Elachi, Agnes Zani and county first ladies also attended the service.
Emily, well known as Chep-Cricket- she was the captain of the Kenya national women’s cricket team- was born on June 16, 1989 at the Nairobi hospital.
She was the second child and only daughter of Isaac and Esther Rutto and had three brothers.
She was described as an active athletic girl who excelled in both curricular and co-curricular activities. She played hockey and football in primary school and was also a competitive swimmer.
At Kenya high school, Emily stood out as an exceptional sportswoman and was appointed the school’s sports captain. She rose to become the captain of the Kenya national women’s cricket team where she was an all-rounder on the pitch: her team mates said she was a batter, an off spin bowler and the team’s best fielder.
Emily led the national women’s team in their first international match against Uganda in 2006, a few months after first holding a cricket bat. In the same year, she played against Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe in the African Regional qualifiers for the World cup.
In 2009, the team won the African Women’s Championship under her leadership.
