At least 1500 residents were offered services at no cost after the Huduma Centre in partnership with the Mombasa Cement organized the joint venture to bring services closer to the people.
The residents got vital government services and documentation including ID cards, good conduct certificates, birth and death certificates, NSSF, KRA PIN, VCT, and health certificates under the Huduma Mashinani services.
The joint initiative comes as Huduma Centre advocates for increased stakeholder partnerships to enable Kenyans to access government services and obtain essential documents through the Huduma Mashinani program.
Harrison Yogo Huduma Centre Mombasa Assistant Manager, emphasized collaborating with other stakeholders, as we have done with Mombasa Cement. Hence, through the partnership, Mombasa Cement paid for all the services rendered at Miracle Park in Kibarani.
Huduma Centre and Mombasa are mulling over more frequent Huduma Mashinani at the park due to the overwhelming response. The Mombasa Cement feeding program at Kibarani was an added incentive. Yogo reported that many Kenyans are unable to apply for essential documents due to a lack of fares to visit Huduma Centres.
“We have seen an upsurge in numbers here than elsewhere. Just today, we have served over 400 people and as you can see there are still a lot of people in the lines,” Yogo said.
“We are still consulting on the extension. After that, we would be able to say whether we will continue with this partnership or not. Initially, we were supposed to do it for three days but the numbers are overwhelming,” he added.
Most of the services sought are ID cards, good conduct, and NSSF. “These are the documents that help one get a job so they are the most sought after,” Yogo said.
Mombasa Cement Miracle Park Manager Gulam Mustafa said they got the idea from the people visiting the park.
“We felt the pain of the people and I had a discussion with my bosses and they got into contact with the Huduma people,” Mustafa said adding that the response was encouraging with people coming from as far as Mtwapa, Likoni, Magongo, Bamburi, Utange, Majaoni, among other places.
“The beauty of this service here is the food that people eat. It is encouraging to see them get this crucial service as they eat,” he added.
Peter Ndunda, 19, said he had not bothered applying for the ID card because of the cost and time involved.
“I was just there. But since a friend of mine who has been coming here to eat saw the services being offered, he encouraged me to come because it is free and I will also get to eat,” said Ndunda.
Mary Katana applied for the birth certificates of her two children at the park. She delivered at home and could not start the process of getting the certificates until she was told of the initiative.
“Now my children,” she said. “Will have birth certificates like normal children and I know this will help them get jobs in the future.”
By Sadik Hassan
