SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY MARGARET KENYATTA

AT THE HANDING-OVER CEREMONY OF 40 TH FULLYKITTED BEYOND ZERO MOBILE CLINIC TO LAMU

COUNTY AT MOKOWE PRIMARY SCHOOL ON
TUESDAY 24TH MAY, 2016.
Residents of Lamu,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, let me thank you Governor Issa Timamy, and the
people of Lamu County for such a warm and hospitable
welcome; asanteni sana.
Its a pleasure to be with you all today, in a county
endowed with a rich and renowned cultural heritage that
attracts interest globally.
I realise and I think we are all awarethat recent security
challenges have detracted some people from venturing to
Lamu, either for business or pleasure.
But I commend Honorable Governor Issa Timamy, and the
people of Lamu County for the unity you have
demonstrated in the wake of such challenges, and for the
commitment that you have shown to building a peaceful
county.
It is obvious that your efforts are bearing fruit, and that
business and tourism are steadily recovering. That is good
news not just for Lamu, but for Kenyaand we all
celebrate that with you, even as we individually pledge
whatever support we can give.
One of the ways that I have personally committed to being
of support to Kenya, and Kenyans is by seeking greater
investment in healthcare and particularly, in the health
and vitality of mothers and children. This has been my
little thing as Wangari Maathai would say.
I truly believe that health is the bedrock of everything
good we want to see in this county, and in our country
economic growth, peace, unity and security. Healthy

people are more innovative, and more productive people.

Healthy citizens can start and sustain profitable business.
Strong, healthy women can serve their families better,
invest more in raising moral children, and engage in
economic activities more effectively. Healthy children can
read, study, learn, dream and hopeand they are more
likely to build a better future for us.
I know this county shares that belief.
It is evident in the amount of work that has gone into
liberalising healthcare services for wananchi, ensuring
maternal health care, and fighting HIV and AIDS. It is
obvious in the fact that you have upgraded the maternity
wings in some of your hospitals to include fully equipped
maternity theatres, newborn units and ultra sound rooms.
It is clear in the construction, renovation and refurbishing
of health centres across the County, that the local
government is currently engaged in. And is apparent in
the measures you are taking to address any shortages in
staffing, medicine and beds in the county. Moreover, the
work you have done to improve sanitation and waste
disposal management will undoubtedly yield a positive
effects for all your people, including children who are so
prone to malaria, diarrhoea and dysentery.
I commend the local Government for these diverse
investments in the health sector and I want to also thank
your County First Lady, Dr. Hajara El-Busaidy, for being
such a strong supporter of health initiatives in the county.
Today, I am here to add a small contribution to all the work
that is going on. This not my contribution alone, but the
contribution of countless Kenyans, who have pulled
together towards improving the lives of mothers and
children across the country.
So on behalf of those Kenyans, and on behalf of all the
organisations, institutions and individuals that support

Beyond Zero, I am proud to hand over to the Lamu people

the new fully equipped mobile clinic here today.
This is the 40th mobile clinic presented since the Beyond
Zero campaign kicked off three years ago, and I have been
incredibly humbled by the support this campaign has
received from such diverse groups and people.
Ultimately, I think this clinic really attests to the goodwill
that we, as citizens, have towards one another. That
goodwill needs to be seen more and more across this
country. More and more, we need to see that
understanding that we are one people, and that our
destinies are all linked.
This clinic, as all the others, stands as a symbol of unity
that comes when we cooperate towards a shared future,
and a shared cause and I hope that as we leave this unit
here, it will foster greater unity among Lamu residents
too.
Bwana Governor, as you receive this clinic, I am hopeful
that your government will find it helpful in supplementing
all the initiatives currently underway in the county; I also
suggest that we jointly partner with Beyond Zero to raise
money to buy a boat ambulance for Lamu island.
With those remarks, it is now my absolute pleasure to
hand over the Beyond Zero Mobile Clinic kindly donated
by Britam to you Governor Timamy and to the People of
Lamu County.
Asanteni Sana.