Hundreds of Lugari Constituency residents on Wednesday benefited from a mobile outreach programme dubbed huduma mashinani meant to bring government services closer to the people.
The one-day programme courtesy of Huduma Centre and facilitated by Kakamega County Woman MP Elsie Muhanda saw residents benefit from services like; Birth Certificate Registration, Identity card application, NHIF, Pensions, Social services and free medical checkups.
Speaking during the outreach at Musembe in Chekalini ward, Muhanda said she is facilitating the programme in all the 12 Kakamega constituencies following an outcry from residents who are finding it cumbersome and costly to access government services at their current
physical locations.
Muhanda appealed to residents to turn up in large numbers and take advantage of the services offered in the outreaches in their respective constituencies.
She said, “Besides the government services, free health services are also available. We have cervical and breast cancer screening, diabetes and malaria testing in addition to HIV counseling and testing.”
She said as a County MP she has twelve children (constituencies) and all of them would benefit from the programme.
“Yesterday we were in Mumias East and Lurambi and we realized residents are facing a lot of challenges in accessing government services,” said Muhanda.
“Today we are here in Lugari then later Likuyani Constituency. Tomorrow we shall be in Butere and Ikolomani. In the subsequent days we shall be in Matungu and Mumias West; Navakholo and Malava then lastly Khwisero and Shinyalu.” she stated.
Muhanda appealed to all elected leaders, county and national government officials to work together for effective service delivery to Kakamega residents.
Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera lauded Muhanda for the initiative of taking government services closer to residents.
He called on elected leaders in the county to implement their election promises devoid of witch-hunt.
“Let each leader do what they pledged. Nobody should be distracted whenever they are moving around implementing their promises. Let us wait for the five years to elapse then question them,” he said.
Chekalini Ward Representative Titus Kwoma thanked the Woman MP for the mobile programme which he said would save residents from the high travel costs to distant government offices.
Residents who turned up during the outreach said it was a rare opportunity that was long overdue.
They said it is costly and ridiculous for someone to travel from far flung areas of Lugari constituency to Kakamega town to seek a service that only costs Sh100.
By Melechezedeck Ejakait
