The orphan who picked a big heart

ABBAS GULLET

SECRETARY-GENERAL. KENYA RED CROSS SOCIETY

Age: 53

Education Background: Post Graduate Diploma (MBA) in Practising Management (INSEAD 1997) from Lancaster University, McGill University, Hitotubashi University, and Bangalore School of Management

Professional background

1978 and 1984 - Kenya External Telecommunications Company and the Kenya Post and Telecommunications

He started his career with the Kenya Red Cross as a National First Aid Officer in 1985 and rose up the ranks.

Accolades

UN Person of the Year in 2007.

Honorary of Order of the Golden Warrior from the Kenya Government.

In 2009, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) conferred to Mr Gullet the Utetezi Award (Civil Society) in recognition of his remarkable contribution in humanitarian activities.

To fully comprehend Abbas Gullet’s connection with Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), you have to understand that, in many ways and forms, the organisation is not just a job for him; it’s, amongst many things, his redemption.

Born in Garissa, Gullet lost his parents when he was still an infant. A family, that was not a part of his ethnic group, took him in and they moved to Mombasa.

His adoptive father became more than just a father to him; he became the model who would later shape him as a man and as a professional.

For 11 years, Gullet volunteered for KRCS before he was employed. Over the years he has worked pretty much in every corner of the world.

--------------------------------------------

Are you a big hearted guy?

I don’t know, people say so. Thing is I have gotten so much from my adopted parents and from my country.

They didn’t have to take me in, but they did. I also went through my primary and secondary education on government bursaries.

And so when life has been so kind to you, you have to feel a need to give back.

You have to be humble enough to want to offer yourself in any capacity and these ambitions fit in our mandate here, at KRCS, of alleviating human suffering.

Who are your strongest influences?

Mrs Salhan Rahemtullah and her husband Soud Suleiman Saleh Mizra, who worked for BP Shell in Garissa. They were like my bosses but most importantly they were my parents.

I’d love to peek into your bucket list.

Well, one, I’d like to take this organisation into the next level of self sufficiency, the first of its kind in the region.

Secondly, I’d love to work on my spirituality more – by going back and understanding the Lord Almighty better than I have.