Sam’s family has a history of service, volunteering their time and providing financial support for their community. Sam’s father, Simon Kaniu, provided financing and other assistance in constructing the Kagaa clinic in 1972. He continued to support the clinic and, along with Sam’s older brother Josphat, was instrumental in the construction of the Birthing Center at the Kagaa clinic.
The Kagaa clinic is in the Lari division, Kiambu district in central Kenya approximately 50 kilometers from Nairobi. Although the distance from the city is small, it is quite rural and connected by rutted dirt roads making travel slow and at times difficult. The local economy is farming, including tea plantations, dairy, and basic food crops. Prior to the Kagaa clinic’s construction, the local population would have to walk to a small clinic with limited resources 10 miles away. If women wanted a delivery center, it would be another 25 miles. Most people still walk several miles to the clinic with limited options of travel either on back of a motorbike (boda boda) or infrequent van (matatu).
Our team has done mass screening for hypertension and diabetes as well as offered medical advice and treatment for a variety of conditions teaming with the staff of the Kagaa clinic and utilizing its small dispensary. We also added a medical camp at the minimally resourced Kagwee clinic.
Our medical camps attract many patients who were unaware of the no charge services offered at the clinics and with our encouragement we hope they will return for ongoing care.
Over the years we have seen the local government and the clinic staff become more engaged with new buildings, landscaping, walkways (on a small scale compared to the West) showing pride and dedication to making Kagaa one of the best rural clinics.