Makueni distributes 385 bicycles to Community Health Promoters
PATRICK NYAKUNDI-KNA
The Makueni County Government has launched a major initiative to strengthen community healthcare by distributing 385 bicycles to Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and introducing free ambulance services to improve access to healthcare across the county.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. flagged off the bicycles at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, stating that the Sh6 million investment will enhance the mobility of CHPs, enabling them to reach more households and deliver essential health services more efficiently.
The bicycles were distributed across five wards, with Ivingoni/ Nzambani receiving 239, Kikumbulyu South and Kikumbulyu North receiving 49 each, while Masongaleni and Thange received 24 bicycles apiece.
Governor Mutula said the bicycles were procured after residents highlighted transportation challenges facing Community Health Promoters during public participation forums held in the previous financial year.
He noted that CHPs are often the first point of contact for patients at the community level, particularly in remote areas, where they are required to walk long distances while carrying medical kits weighing up to 20 kilogrammes.
“The work these Community Health Promoters do is enormous.
They are the first contact within our communities and often travel across difficult terrain to reach households. These bicycles will ease their burden and improve service delivery,” he said.
The Governor said improved mobility would enable CHPs to meet their monthly target of visiting at least 33 households while enhancing disease surveillance, maternal and child healthcare, health education and follow-up of patients.
He encouraged the remaining 26 wards in the county to prioritise the purchase of bicycles in the next budget cycle to ensure all Community Health Promoters benefit from the programme.
Mutula announced that the county government, working with a development partner, plans to procure an additional 1,000 bicycles during the current financial year to further strengthen community health services.
During the event, the Governor also officially launched free ambulance services for patients referred by clinicians as well as those requiring emergency medical attention within and outside the county.
The free ambulance programme, which began on July 1, 2026, has already facilitated the transportation of 265 patients to health facilities where they received specialised treatment.