The Role of the Kenya Society for the Blind

The Kenya Society for the Blind Act states the role of the Kenya Society for the Blind. According to the Act, “the blind” means those persons who are deprived of all sight or are so deprived of sight that they require the aid of special facilities to obtain education, training or employment.

The Kenya Society for the Blind (KSB) is a statutory charitable organization established in 1956. It is a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, and with power to sue and be sued in its corporate name.

Role of the Kenya Society for the Blind

The role of the Kenya Society for the Blind is to–

• promote the welfare, education, training and employment of the blind;
• assist the government, societies, any institution, organisation or society or any person in all matters relating to the blind;
• to awaken public interest in the welfare of the blind and in all matters relating to blindness;
• to advise on all things necessary or required in any matter relating to or connected with the blind.

Powers of the Kenya Society for the Blind

To fulfil its roles, the powers of the Kenya Society for the Blind are to–

• acquire by purchase, gift or otherwise any property and any rights or interests therein or thereover;
• enter into any contract or agreement;
• collect, or to arrange for the collection of, or to seek subscriptions, contributions, gifts or donations, whether in money or otherwise;
• erect, alter or demolish any building or other erection;
• sell, lease, dispose of or otherwise deal with any property and any rights or interests therein or thereover;
• borrow and raise money upon such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Council;
• invest any sums of money not immediately required in any investment for the time being authorised by law for the investment of trust sums of money, and to vary that investment;
• carry on any business which will be of a direct benefit to the blind;
• establish, maintain, run or assist in the establishment, maintenance or running of any hospital, school or any other institution which will be a direct benefit to the blind;
• employ, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Society, such managers, agents and servants as may be necessary, and to fix their remuneration and to arrange for pension schemes, gratuities and retiring allowances and any contributions for that reason;
• establish a local branch or committee of the Society in any specified area or for any specified undertaking, and by rules to make provision for the constitution, proceedings, powers and duties of such local branch or committee of the Society;
• delegate to any local branch or committee of the Society or to any institution, organisation or society or to any person any of these powers conferred upon the Society in this section–
  • to collect, or to arrange for the collection of, or to seek subscriptions, contributions, gifts or donations, whether in money or otherwise;
  • to carry on any business which will be of a direct benefit to the blind;
  • to establish, maintain, run or assist in the establishment, maintenance or running of any hospital, school or any other institution which will be a direct benefit to the blind; and
  • to employ, upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Society, such managers, agents and servants as may be necessary, and to fix their remuneration and to arrange for pension schemes, gratuities and retiring allowances and any contributions for that reason.
• do all such acts, matters and things as may be necessary for fulfilling the objectives of the Society.

For more about the role of the Kenya Society for the Blind, see the Kenya Society for the Blind Act and visit their website.