Huduma Mashinani, a National Government outreach initiative aimed at bringing public services closer to citizens, has continued to ease access to essential services by taking them directly to communities.
The programme enables residents to receive quality services from various government agencies at designated local centres thus reducing travel costs and waiting time.
In Kiambu town residents are accessing a range of county government services through the ongoing Huduma Mashinani programme outside CleanShelf Supermarket, in an initiative aimed at enhancing service delivery and reducing the need for residents to travel to government offices.
The exercise, organized by Kiambu Municipality officials has enabled residents to make inquiries and receive assistance on various critical services in a more convenient setting.
Temporary service desks have been set up to ensure members of the public are served efficiently with one of the officials, Erick Ndung’u saying the initiative forms part of the county government’s efforts to strengthen citizen engagement and promote accessibility to public services at the grassroots level.
Residents visiting the site have been able to interact directly with county officials, a move expected to improve communication between the government and the public while addressing concerns promptly.
“The Huduma Mashinani programme seeks to bridge the gap between service providers and residents by taking services to easily accessible locations within communities. The arrangement is also expected to save citizens time and transport costs that would otherwise be incurred when seeking services at county offices,” says Ndungú.
He noted that decentralizing services is intended to ensure that no person is left behind in accessing government programmes and information adding the initiative is in line with the county government’s commitment to efficient and responsive service delivery.
The initiative has provided a platform for Kiambu town residents to obtain guidance on county procedures and make inquiries in a more customer-friendly environment.
Kiambu Municipality officials encouraged people to take advantage of the outreach programme and utilize the services being offered reiterating that bringing government services closer to the people was a priority of both the National and County Governments.
The ongoing programme also underscores the county administration’s focus on enhancing public participation and fostering a closer relationship between citizens and service providers through regular community-based engagements.
by Eugene Kahigu
