Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) secretary-general Abbas Gullet has been given the UN in Kenya Person of the Year 2007 award for his work in reforming the organisation into a successful and partly self-financing operation.

Gullet received the accolade as part of celebrations to mark UN Day at the UN headquarters in Nairobi on 24 October.

UN resident coordinator and UNFPA representative Mustafa Kemal said Gullet was honoured for his personal commitment in making the KRCS a world-class humanitarian agency.

"This award is for the thousands of dedicated and selfless staff and volunteers who have given their lives to serve Kenyans in need," Gullet said.

In 2001, when Gullet was appointed, the society was heavily in debt and had lost credibility among its membership. Today, the KRCS says it is a leading humanitarian agency, partly self-financing and operating through a network of 58 branches and 69,000 volunteers countrywide.

Gullet attributes the revival to good governance and transparency and has challenged local and national NGOs to do the same.

He becomes the sixth individual to receive the UN annual award for achievements and contributions towards the Millennium Development Goals.