SPEECH

BY
HER
EXCELLENCY,
FIRST
LADY
MARGARET KENYATTA DURING THE FIRST LADIES
LUNCHEON AT
JW MARRIOTT CAMELBACK INN, ARIZONA, PHOENIX,
USA ON 18TH MARCH, 2016.
First Lady of Arizona, Ms. Angela Ducey
Honorary Chair, Mrs. Cindy McClain
Founders of Project C.U.R.E. Dr. James Jackson and
Dr. Anna Marie Jackson, Friends of Africa, Bonnie
Bishop
Distinguished Guests,
Partners, Friends,
It is an absolute pleasure to be here with you today. Thank
you especially, for providing me the platform to speak to
you about healthcare needs in Kenya. I share this platform
together with other First Ladies who have come before
me, to bring awareness and raise funds to support the
humanitarian efforts of First Ladies around the world.
Thank you for that opportunity. Special thank you to Ms.
Melinda Taylor for buying us all lunch!
Project C.U.R.E, the work you are doing for communities
around the world is staggering in scope, and
immeasurable in impact.
For the past three days of my stay here in Arizona, I have
had the incredible privilege of meeting people who have
committed of themselves towards building a better world.
On Tuesday, I witnessed the loading of the container of
medical supplies destined for Kenya. What seemed like
such a seamless process of collecting, labeling, loading
and shipping, I know it takes dedicated time from the
thousands of volunteers across the country; resources to
ship to the supplies to the destinations; coordination and
management from the Board and staff; and all this made

possible through partnerships and solid relationships built

along the way with people like you here today.
The partnerships and sponsors represented here today
confirms that charity can and does drive change. It also
lends credence to the powerful idea that building a better
world is good business any day. Each year, you
demonstrate a willingness to give and treat people youve
never met, who live miles away, as though they are
members of your family.
Each year you come here, to hear about people challenges
while committing to making personal sacrifices that make
a difference in their lives. And each year, when you hear
about the big problems faced by citizens of different
nations, you choose resilience over resignation, humble
action over heedless apathy, and you choose love - the
one sure way through which our worlds humanity is truly
realised.
We are all aware that of the host of hard, daunting
problems faced by men, women, children, young and old
around the world. I am convinced that the only way we
make headway in these challenges, is when people like
you take time to lift up their eyes from your own personal
plight, and look for where you can share and mitigate the
plight of others. Thank you for being those people.
This year, we are here to partner towards a vision that
resonates with me -on a leadership level - as the First Lady
of Kenya - and on a deeply personal level as well. Were
here to work towards improved health in Kenya, and
towards greater inclusivity in access to quality healthcare
in Kenya. Its a vision we are actively working towards,
together with the Government of Kenya. The Government
has introduced a program that is investing over 30 million
dollars in creating and upgrading hospitals across the
country; equipping them with modern, state-of-the-art
diagnostic equipment which citizens can access at a
minimal cost.
The Government has also removed Public Hospital charges
for maternity services in order to enable expecting

mothers, and their unborn children, to receive critical care

at zero cost.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the vision of a healthier Kenya,
with inclusive healthcare access, is one that I too have
dedicated my time. Ive spent a significant portion of my
time, as First Lady, running. For those who dont know
what I meanNo, Ive not been vying for any kind of
office. I have literally been running marathons! Now, I can
understand if that doesnt immediately strike you as
behaviour befitting the wife of a Head of State.. but I
assure you, it has all been for the greater good!
In January 2014, I launched an initiative aimed at reducing
maternal and child deaths, as well as eradicating HIV.
Beyond Zero aims to help Kenya achieve Zero preventable
child and maternal deaths, zero new HIV cases and 100
per cent immunisation. The campaign uses innovative
methods to raise capital for the purchase, and distribution
of mobile clinics across the country.
The First Ladies Half Marathon has anchored itself as a
flagship fundraising project, and with support from public
and private sector, individuals and philanthropists, we
have within a span of 18months successfully purchased 36
mobile clinics, stocked with much needed medical
equipment and medications.
These clinics have been freely and indiscriminately
distributed across the 36 out of 47 countries of Kenya, to
rural areas as well as urban settlements. Through them,
were bridging a huge health gap in a country where too
many people have, for too long had to walk too many
miles to get to the nearest brick and mortar hospital often
to find it inadequately stocked and incapable of catering
to their needs.
That is what I together with thousands of Kenyans have
been running for. Earlier this month I hosted and ran the
third fundraising marathon of my tenure. I ran with 35,000
Kenyans and raised more funds to purchase 11 more

clinics. This has been a result of the solid partnerships we

have built.
My ultimate dream and goal is to expand the range of
equipment available in these clinics, making them more
inclusive for men, women and children -offering
ultrasounds and diagnostic and screening equipment for
cancer including cervical cancer screening and treatment.
My goal is to help with the refurbishment of community
health facilities and establish 3-4 model centers that
provide specialized care for mothers and children.
The facts and statistics of the senseless deaths that
continue to occur are staggering and sad. This ladies and
gentlemen, is the real race, its the race to save lives of
mothers and children. It is a race against time.
Today, Im asking you to join in me, in the race. Through
our collective initiatives, Project CU.R.E, Beyond Zero and
others, we can together achieve a positive ripple effect
towards a shared destiny- Towards helping our world make
a significant leap in achieving the zero unnecessary
deaths for mothers and children. Zero deaths for all.
Thank you once again Ladies and Gentlemen. I appreciate
your attention.
And now, I would like to share more about the Beyond
Zero initiative through video.
Asanteni Sana.