On Sunday, March 9, 2025, leaders from Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and other non-state actors converged at Kwa Reuben from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EAT for a crucial community forum aimed at addressing pressing issues facing residents of Embakasi South. The State of the City engagement, organized by grassroots organizations including Jubilant Stewards of Africa (JSA) and other local advocacy groups, sought to amplify concerns over healthcare inefficiencies, recurring fire outbreaks, persistent water shortages, and unfulfilled government promises. The physical gathering provided a platform for leaders and residents to engage in dialogue and push for urgent government intervention.
Speaking at the event, Jared Oundo, Executive Director of Jubilant Stewards of Africa (JSA) which is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) dedicated to the improvement of living standards, social ethics, dignity and empowerment of communities. and an aspiring MP for Embakasi South in 2027, emphasized the need for government accountability and immediate action.
“The people of Mukuru kwa Reuben and Embakasi South have endured enough. They are paying for healthcare but cannot access proper medical services. Fires have left families homeless, and water shortages continue to cripple livelihoods. The government must listen to the people before the situation worsens,” Oundo stated.
One of the key concerns raised was the inefficiency of the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has been widely criticized for failing to disburse funds to hospitals, leaving patients stranded without medical care. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) and the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) recently issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, threatening nationwide protests if reforms were not implemented. “More than five million Kenyans are at risk of missing critical medical services due to SHA’s failed system,” UKCS Secretary General Tom Odege warned. “Public servants are paying double for a system that doesn’t work, while government leaders prioritize personal interests.”
The healthcare crisis has left thousands of residents and Kenyan citizens at large struggling, with many forced to rely on expensive private hospitals or community fundraising to access treatment.
Residents also decried the frequent fire outbreaks, the most recent one occurring in Kariobangi area near Gatoto, which destroyed homes and businesses. With inadequate fire response mechanisms in informal settlements, families are often left to rebuild their lives with little to no support.
Community leaders at the forum called for improved emergency response services, better housing infrastructure, and proactive disaster prevention strategies.
Embakasi South residents continue to suffer from chronic water shortages, with thousands lacking access to clean drinking water. Despite repeated government promises, water supply remains unreliable, disproportionately affecting low-income families in informal settlements like Mukuru kwa Reuben.
The forum also criticized the lack of investment in critical infrastructure, calling on both county and national governments to prioritize roads, drainage systems, and sanitation projects.
With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the forum also urged politicians and the community to commit to peaceful political transitions and avoid divisive rhetoric that could fuel tensions.
The leaders vowed to continue mobilizing residents and stakeholders to push for solutions, warning that if the government does not act, they will escalate their efforts.
“This is just the beginning. We are demanding action, not empty promises. If our voices are ignored, we will persist in advocating for solutions through every available channel until meaningful change happens,” Oundo asserted.
The participating organizations plan to petition government agencies, engage policymakers, and sustain media pressure to ensure their grievances are addressed.
For now, the residents of Embakasi South and Mukuru kwa Reuben remain hopeful but skeptical, watching to see whether their leaders will listen—or whether history will repeat itself once again.
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