1. MORE COUNTIES SETTING THEIR GOLD STANDARDS FROM NANDI COUNTY CALL CENTRE PROJECT
Nandi County's move in implementing open governance and empowering citizen participation through the call centre project has in the recent past become a benchmark point for other counties. It is now bringing governance and service delivery closer to the people as one of the objectives by the County's Department of Administration, Public Service, and e-Government. This week, the county has been privileged to host the counties of Makueni, Kitui, Bomet and the Council of Governors on a benchmark mission.
The Toll-Free information point where one can call or send a text message via 1548 is now saving lives, time & money, enhancing citizens' general know-how, improving the Government-Citizen relationship and even changing livelihoods of the people. This is evident from the various success stories especially on matters of emergency reporting and response, timely delivery of AI services, effective dissemination of information and training among others.
The members from the visiting counties had an opportunity to interact with Silas Tanui from Kapsabet's Silver inn area who is one of the beneficiaries of the call centre project. Tanui is a farmer whose cow calved, experienced uterine prolapse at 10:00 PM and needed urgent attention by a veterinarian. After raising an alarm through the county call centre(1548), the county Veterinary Officers rushed to his farm and saved the animal worth close to Ksh.120,000.
The Call Centre project is also giving the citizens an opportunity to access Government information, share their interests, opinions, ideas, complaints, and compliments as well as allow the government to easily communicate to its citizens. It is, therefore, acting as one of the best tools for public participation. Since its inception in August 2019, the Call Centre has handled approximately 5800 calls and a number of text messages, electronic mails, and social media chats.
Some of the other counties who have learned from this initiative include Tharaka Nithi and Elgeyo Marakwet, which are now establishing their own. As the county expects more of such visitations, it is currently working towards expanding the call centre and increasing the services offered so as to give more opportunities for handling matters of Youth, Women, and People Living With Disability (PWDs).
2. COUNTIES BENCHMARKING IN NANDI'S HEALTH SECTOR
The County Government of Nandi has become a focal point on matters development and learning model on devolution for other counties. Nandi Governor Stephen Sang earlier in the week received delegations from Makueni, Kitui and Bomet Counties who are on a benchmarking tour.
The delegation visited Kapsabet County Referral Hospital where they paid a courtesy call to the Medical Superintendant Dr. Daniel Kemboi who welcomed them to the facility. Among the areas of interest being the Health Management Information System (HMIS).
Mwakavi Justus, from Makueni County, lauded Nandi for the innovative use of the Management System, especially in healthcare. "The HMIS is a really great way to track all happenings in health facilities, especially for planning and monitoring the flow of commodities. It is what we need for all the health facilities in the Country to monitor services and to keep our data", said Mr.Mwakavi.
"We are happy to have counties coming to Nandi to benchmark. This is a very good initiative. We believe that every county has a positive story to tell about devolution and that is why we are opening our doors to host Counties and exchange our developments", mentioned Dr. Kemboi the Medical Superintendent.
The team later toured the facilities Radiology Department, Wards, Outpatient and the ongoing Mother and Child Construction.
According to Kitui Chief Officer for Health, lessons learned from Nandi will be used to prioritize development agendas in respective wards based on analyzed and interpreted information.