Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor has sought to allay concerns over international agreements signed by Kenya, saying they were designed to translate government policies into practical benefits for ordinary citizens.
Speaking on Saturday during the Huduma Mashinani outreach programme at Kanyateng Primary School in Nyakach Sub-county in Kisumu, where residents accessed a range of government services, the AG assured Kenyans that the deals were in the best interest of the country.
“These are agreements that help us translate policies and regulations into our normal lives. I want to assure you that the treaties Kenya enters into are good and are meant to improve the lives of wananchi,” she said.
She added that President William Ruto remained committed to inclusive development and had opened up government to re-engage communities, particularly the Nyanza region, to bring services closer to the people and rebuild trust.
Oduor pointed to ongoing planned infrastructure projects, including road upgrades and the proposed extension of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Naivasha to Kisumu, as evidence of the government’s commitment.
“We have begun work on key road corridors, such as the Mau Summit–Kisumu route, with feasibility studies already underway. In February, the President said the SGR extension to Kisumu will be launched,” she affirmed.
She urged residents to work closely with government leaders, saying leadership was about making bold decisions that deliver real and visible change.
Medical Services Principal Secretary (PS), Dr Ouma Oluga, said Huduma Mashinani was a deliberate whole-of-government initiative aimed at promoting equity and eliminating discrimination in access to public services.
“Equity means that no Kenyan should be discriminated against when it comes to employment, social health insurance, registration of IDs, marriages or any other government service,” Dr. Oluga said.
He said the programme, which was initiated in December 2024 by his office and the Attorney-General’s office, targets communities that lack information or easy access to essential government services.
During the outreach, residents accessed services including Birth and ID registration, marriage registration, legal aid, passport applications, DCI services, medical services, Social Health Authority (SHA) registration, voter registration and enrolment with the National Employment Authority.
Dr Oluga said Kisumu County had recorded strong participation in registration drives, but noted that uptake of some services remained low, with SHA registration at about 60 per cent.
He also raised alarm over high rates of teenage pregnancies, HIV infections among the youth and gender-based violence in the region, urging communities to take responsibility in protecting children and adolescents.
“These are issues we must confront honestly. We must stop defiling children, stop teenage pregnancies and end gender-based violence,” he said.
State Department for Children Services Principal Secretary (PS), Carren Ageng’o, decried rising cases of defilement, child abuse and teenage pregnancies in Kisumu County, saying the trend threatened the future of the region.
She said the government had intensified child protection interventions, including enrolling 2,700 vulnerable children in a Cash Transfer programme, with Sh. 5 million paid out monthly to cushion them.
Ageng’o added that the State was also rolling-out the Presidential Bursary and urged parents to apply ahead of the January school re-opening to keep children in school.
Officials said Huduma Mashinani would continue to roll-out across the country, with follow-up visits planned to ensure communities fully benefit from government services and information.
By Chris Mahandara
