Jane Nafula had just completed sitting the 2025 Kenya Junior Secondary Assessment Examination, KJSEA, when she developed eyesight problems that affected her reading capability.
Her main and immediate worry was the problem to be screened and probably treated before she could join the Grade 10 classes this year, set to open on January 12.
For Nafula (not her real name) from Machewa Ward, her parents could not raise any money to send her to the nearby Saboti Sub-county hospital for examination.
But when the 17-year-old student of a free medical camp adjacent to her home was being conducted in the area, she swiftly moved there and, to her surprise, found that eye treatment had been among the items being handled by the hired medics.
Today, Nafula is among 51 patients who were screened, prescribed and handed glasses during the first day of the Julius Sabila Cherry Free Medical Camps that were spread out in Saboti Constituency in December 2025.
Nafula is not the only beneficiary of the 6-day camps, but James Ndhiwa, a Boda Boda operator, who had a dislocated leg, was handed a wheelchair after being denied similar treatment from the local public health facilities for lack of funds.
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And for Mzee Juma Nakitare in his old age, the man from Kinyoro has breathing problems complicated by recurrent hypertension. He was educated on the adherence to general hygiene.
But Moses Kiprop, whose problem couldn’t be analysed and addressed on the spot, had his case referred to specialists under the same sponsorship for the free medical camps kitty.
According to Mr Sabila, the sole sponsor of the fund, the idea of bringing the social health treatment to the ground was born out of the inability of the residents to access the service from both public and private facilities because of poverty.
Sabila, who is eying the Saboti parliamentary seat in 2027, the nearby Saboti Sub-county hospital and Gitwamba Health Centre were equally lacking the basic drugs, hence his initiative to compliment the Ministry of Health.
During the inaugural day of the exercise at Machewa Primary School on 5th December 2025, a total of 4,252 attendance was recorded for consultations before the medics moved to Saboti Sub-county hospital, Gitwamba Health Centre, Kinyoro Primary School, Star School Kitalale and ended at Birunda Secondary School on 21st December.
A report showed that local women aged between 35-52 were suffering from mass breast complications as chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension were taking the toll.
Other diseases identified in the area include infection in the urinary tract system, arthritis, goitre, haemorrhoids and general abdominal complications.
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The camps also covered education on hygiene and nutrition, information on regular check-ups, maternal and child health and on Ophthalmology (eye).
During the health week that covered three Wards- Machewa, Saboti and Kinyoro – the residents were also allowed to register for the SHIF, for the national identity card, as well as voters.
This, according to Mr Sabila, was to save time for the residents seeking the same services in Kitale town, more than 30 km away.
“We were also able to use the camps to build unity and consensus among our residents by involving them in sports activities”, he said, announcing the second phase of the camps will be extended to rural Wards of Tuwan and Matisi in the first term of the 2026 fiscal year.
By Abisai Amugune
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