The Safaricom M-PESA Foundation, in collaboration with the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet, has mounted a medical outreach camp targeting thousands of area residents for specialized healthcare services.
Speaking during the exercise, Esther Waititu, Chief Officer for Financial Services at the Safaricom M-PESA Foundation, emphasised the organisation’s strategic focus on preventive healthcare interventions as a means of reducing the long-term illness burden to communities.
“This medical camp is part of our county-based interventions designed to extend preventative healthcare to underprivileged populations,” said Waititu. “When individuals can proactively manage their health, the overall cost of care declines, and existing facilities, including those under the Social Health Authority (SHA), can operate more effectively. We aim to ensure that healthcare is treated as a primary need and not a privilege.”
She added that the Foundation’s support to Elgeyo Marakwet extends beyond healthcare to the education and infrastructure sectors. “We have invested more than Sh145 million in education projects, including constructing new learning institutions to expand access to education,” said Waititu.
She added, “We have also undertaken groundbreaking works for the Chegilet maternity centre to facilitate safe deliveries. At Safaricom, we are guided by the principle of transforming lives, ensuring that the services we provide create long-term social and economic impact.”
Governor Wisley Rotich lauded the initiative, disclosing that approximately 5,000 residents had received free consultations and treatment during the camp. He further noted that Safaricom had digitized the screening process, allowing for efficient data capture and follow-up diagnostics.
“The magnitude of beneficiaries reached is significant, and we are grateful for the partnership,” Governor Rotich remarked. “Healthcare interventions of this nature are invaluable, as they directly safeguard families. Through Safaricom’s support, we are extending essential services to populations who are often excluded from mainstream medical care.”
He added that the Foundation is simultaneously supporting the construction of three schools in the county, the Tot Mother and Baby Unit, which is nearing completion, and the Chegilet Mother and Baby Unit, which is currently at the groundbreaking phase.
Governor Rotich stressed that the outreach was particularly vital for early disease detection among vulnerable groups lacking insurance or reliable access to health facilities. “This program provides a preventive platform that ensures early diagnosis, timely intervention, and long-term improvement of community health outcomes,” he said.
The medical camp offered free consultations, screenings, and treatment services across various specialties, significantly easing access barriers to healthcare for residents of Elgeyo Marakwet.
By Rennish Okong’o
