“35 years ago, I found my calling by joining Rotary. I realized serving communities is what I was meant to do.”

Eric Kimani is an entrepreneur, a published author, a motivational speaker, and co-founder of a successful educational trust in Kenya – Palmhouse Foundation. And these are just a few of the many hats he wears. But the one role that he plays tirelessly and with utmost passion is being a Rotarian. 

“Rotary has been my dream catcher, it has caught my dreams of helping communities. And when one talks about community work, RFHA comes to your mind. I have been following RFHA’s work since its inception. The work they do creates a bigger impact than what Rotary Clubs can do in a small capacity. Their public-private partnership model helps in doubling the impact of the work we carry out in the communities,” shares Eric. 

Joining RFHA

Eric recently joined RFHA as the head of the Rotary Family Health Days Africa Operations Committee. Sharing his vision for RFHA, he says, “I am looking forward to working with the RFHA board and CEO Sue Paget as they expand the program into Africa. The work they have put in to secure the new partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is phenomenal and will help RFHA bring together the health services to deliver great value.”

“The six new countries that we are working in as part of this new partnership are those who have faced the recent threat of the emergence of the Polio virus. So, our focus now is to work together and bring an impactful change.”

The Power of Rotary

With stories aplenty about how Eric has seen Rotary change people’s lives, he says his journey as a Rotarian has been enriching and fulfilling. “I have travelled extensively within Africa, Asia and the US and the one thing that has stayed the same everywhere, was how Rotary holds the power of helping and supporting people’s lives. From providing education to children who have never been to school to bringing equipment to public hospitals, I have seen the impact Rotarians have created in their communities,” he shares. 

“Thinking about stories of impact reminds me of the time when we visited a remote area in Kenya to donate crutches to a school of differently-abled kids. To see the smiles on their faces when they could walk with the help of the crutches, made it all worthwhile.”  

Vision for Education

Eric and his wife, Margaret, both Rotarians share the vision of supporting communities by providing free education to them. “I am very passionate about education. It can be a game changer for those who cannot afford it, especially at the basic level. My vision as a Rotarian is to see that every child can access education and if I can do anything to achieve that, I will happily do so.” 

And not just through their education trust, Eric and Margaret make sure that they make significant contributions as Rotarians to support children all around the globe get access to education. 

Eric’s is a family of Rotarians – his wife, and his children are all Rotary members. Intriguingly when one asks if their dinner table conversation are all about Rotary, he agrees with a smile. “Rotary has become a way of life and it is such a beautiful way of life. And now, with RFHA, I am happy and excited to be a part of this new journey.  

Eric Kimani is currently the Endowment Major Gifts Adviser 2021-24 for Region 28  (East, central and South Africa) of Zone 22 (Africa) and the head of the Rotary Family Health Days Africa Operations Committee. He is the past president Rotary Club of Nairobi North and a Paul Harris Society member.