Oropoi: The Kakuma Biashara Huduma Centre, with support from BOMA, has launched an outreach programme dubbed Gava Mashinani to deliver essential services to thousands of residents, including refugees and host communities, in remote areas of Turkana West. Oropoi, a remote town near the Kenya-Uganda border, was the first stop for the initiative.
According to Kenya News Agency, Kakuma Biashara Huduma Centre Manager Michael Musyoki confirmed that a route map for additional locations had been finalized, and mobilization efforts were ongoing. "We have partnered with the national government's main Huduma Centre, the county's health sector, and other service providers to ensure a broad range of services reach target populations in remote areas," he said.
Musyoki emphasized that the initiative aims to bridge the gap in access to critical services for underserved and often unreached communities. "Success will be measured by the number of people accessing business registration, licensing, compliance documentation, and health services," he added.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Oropoi outreach programme, Musyoki acknowledged that the lack of access to vital services had hindered the economic potential of the area and its residents. One of the beneficiaries, Grace Ikaal, expressed relief at finally obtaining her national identity card despite her advanced age. "I now feel like a full Kenyan. Before this, I couldn't even access basic services. Many of us without identification documents lived in constant stress, unsure of how to acquire these vital services," she said.
Other service providers, including financial institutions, mobile network operators, and healthcare organizations, have leveraged the Gava Mashinani programme to integrate their services at the grassroots level. Juliana Ndeto, BOMA's Portfolio Director for Refugee Programmes, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting the initiative as part of broader efforts to enhance host-refugee inclusion. "Making government services more accessible reinforces the significance of Biashara Huduma Centre, which was established to bring essential services to the grassroots," she noted.
During the outreach, the Kenya Bankers SACCO, led by Hannah Njoroge, conducted financial literacy training and community sensitization sessions, further empowering local residents.