Oropoi, 30th March 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The Kakuma Biashara Huduma Centre, with support of BOMA through the IKEA Foundation funded by LIFT-NK program, has introduced an outreach program dubbed Gava Mashinani to bring essential services closer 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.
The Manager of Kakuma Biashara Huduma Centre, Michael Musyoki, confirmed that a route map for other locations was ready, and mobilization efforts were ongoing.
“We have partnered with the main Huduma Centre of the national government, the county’s health sector, and other service providers to offer a wide range of services to target populations in remote areas,” he explained.
Musyoki emphasized that the initiative aims to bridge the gap in access to essential services for underserved and often unreached communities.
“Success will be measured by the number of people reached with business registration, licensing, compliance documentation, and health services,” he added.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Oropoi outreach, Musyoki acknowledged that limited access to these 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 identity card despite her advanced age.
“I am now a Kenyan in the full sense of the word. 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 program to integrate their services at the grassroots level.
Juliana Ndeto, the BOMA Portfolio Director for the Refugee, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to fully supporting the initiative as part of 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.
