In 2015, Reuben Ogeda, an Assistant County Commissioner, embarked on a transformative journey to bridge the gap between government services and citizens in rural, marginalized areas. His vision was born from witnessing the struggles of communities forced to travel long distances to access essential public services. The result was the Huduma Mashinani Initiative, a mobile service that brings government services directly to the doorsteps of underserved populations.
The idea for Huduma Mashinani was sparked in 2010 during Ogeda’s tenure as District Officer in Wajir East, particularly in the border division of Khorof Harar. Ogeda noticed firsthand how people in remote areas faced immense challenges in obtaining even the most basic services like identification and registration. This problem persisted when he joined Huduma Kenya in 2015 and witnessed how citizens from as far as Mandera had to travel long distances to access government services at the Wajir Huduma Centre.
Driven by the desire to create a more inclusive system, Ogeda mobilized his team to take government services to the people. The first pilot of Huduma Mashinani took place during the Customer Service Week in October 2015, in Habaswein, Wajir County. The response was overwhelming, and soon after, the initiative gained the attention of the then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, who publicly supported the idea. In 2016, Ogeda's work was recognized nationally and internationally as a model for citizen-focused service delivery.
Huduma Mashinani has not only improved the efficiency of public service delivery, but it has also reduced costs and minimized the time citizens spend traveling to urban centers. The initiative has played a vital role in enhancing accessibility for marginalized groups, such as persons with disabilities and the elderly. Its impact has been so profound that it has received global recognition and has been benchmarked by countries like Tanzania and Uganda.
Ogeda reflects on the success of Huduma Mashinani with pride, particularly recalling the joy and disbelief he saw in the faces of residents in Habaswein, who never imagined such services could be delivered to their doorstep. The initiative’s influence has even extended to private and non-governmental partnerships, with organizations like the East African Petroleum Transporters Association (EAPTA) collaborating to sponsor services for long-distance truck drivers.
However, the path to success hasn’t been without its challenges. Ogeda emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration, both within the government and with local leaders. He believes that by aligning with community needs and continuously engaging with citizens, public service delivery can be significantly enhanced.
Ogeda’s success story serves as an inspiration for public servants striving to make a positive impact. His advice? "Innovation doesn’t require foreign ideas. It requires being observant and focused on the local context. Public servants must always prioritize the needs of the people, collaborate with others, and adapt to the changing environment."
Huduma Mashinani’s legacy is a testament to the power of innovation and the impact of making public services more accessible and efficient. Through his visionary leadership, Reuben Ogeda has demonstrated how one idea can transform lives and set a new standard for government service delivery in Kenya and beyond.
