Nairobi: Hundreds of residents from Kibirigwi, Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, benefited from the Huduma Kenya mobile program known as Huduma Mashinani staged at Kibirigwi Chief's Camp, which provided the actual Huduma Center services, benefiting most elderly and other vulnerable people who aren't able to reach the Kirinyaga Huduma Center at Kerugoya Town.
According to Kenya News Agency, the program involves officials from government departments and agencies under the Huduma Centre going out into villages and other rural areas to offer services. The Deputy Manager of Huduma Center Kirinyaga, Mercy Kanyi, emphasized that collaboration with the county and other stakeholders will improve service delivery to citizens. She encouraged residents to take advantage of the available services by turning out in large numbers.
Kirinyaga County Assembly Speaker Muteti Murimi, a key partner with Huduma, highlighted that the initiative will facilitate easy access to government services for residents of Kibirigwi, regardless of their location, health, gender, and age. Murimi stressed the importance of sensitization on embracing a social health insurance fund (SHIF), aligning with the government's agenda of ensuring a healthy nation.
Beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction with the proximity of services, urging regular scheduling of the program. Cecily Muthoni, one of the residents, appreciated the stakeholders for bringing services closer, noting that many have been eagerly awaiting such an opportunity. Josephat Mutie, another resident, remarked that Huduma Mashinani is providing essential services right at their doorstep, eliminating the need to travel to Kerugoya for assistance.
Services provided during the Huduma Mashinani program included registration for the National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA), Social Health Authority (SHA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) services, National Construction Authority (NCA), issuance of new identification cards, pension services, NSSF, and birth and death certificates. Additionally, Community Health Promoters offered checkup services, while Aster Health Care conducted eye checkups at the same venue.