Transformative Healthcare Advocacy: Peggy Masambu and Godfrey Ngamau’s Journey to Gataka Health Center’s Success
For Peggy Masambu and Godfrey Ngamau, Budget Champions from Kajiado County, the story of Gataka Health Center is a personal achievement. As active members of NEC Hub, both champions have been on a transformative journey of learning and advocacy, with virtual budget cafés playing a pivotal role in their success. “The virtual sessions gave us the tools we needed to connect community priorities with county budgets,” Peggy recalls. “They were our lightbulb moments.”
The Gataka Health Center, also known as G-City Health Center, is now a lifeline for a rural-urban population of over 100,000 people in Nkaimurunya Ward, Kajiado North Sub-County. But the journey to this milestone began with challenges. “Before this facility, expectant mothers had to travel for hours for basic antenatal care,” Godfrey explains. “We knew something had to change.”
The NEC Hub’s virtual budget cafés empowered Peggy and Godfrey to mobilize their community and hold the county government accountable. Drawing on insights from the sessions, they organized training forums and community dialogues to highlight the urgent need for accessible healthcare.
They worked closely with local leaders and a county public participation officer, leveraging the Kajiado County Community Health Service Bill to align the community’s priorities with the county’s health budget.
Their efforts bore fruit with the construction of the Gataka Health Center, a Level 3 facility that now provides essential services, including antenatal care (ANC), mother and child health (MCH), and comprehensive care (CCC). The center serves an average of 300 patients daily and features a 10-bed maternity unit. “Seeing this facility come to life felt like a dream,” Peggy says. “It was proof that when a community comes together, anything is possible.”
The introduction of Taifa Care further enhanced the center’s impact, bringing universal healthcare closer to reality. Patients now travel from neighboring areas, including Oloolua, Olkeri, Rongai and even Karen Ward in Nairobi, to access services at Gataka Health Center. “We’re no longer just serving our ward,” Godfrey notes. “This is a regional facility, and it’s a testament to what advocacy can achieve.”
Peggy and Godfrey’s advocacy didn’t stop at construction. They actively worked to ensure the facility remained well-stocked with essential medicines and adequately staffed. They also championed the training of Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to meet the needs of diverse patients, reflecting the center’s inclusive approach. “We’ve seen how healthcare can transform lives,” Peggy reflects. “And we’re not done yet.”
This success story underscores the transformative power of informed advocacy and community collaboration. For Peggy and Godfrey, it’s a reminder that every voice matters and that real change begins with a shared vision and persistent action.
Benchmarking and Courtesy call to CEC Department of Lands, Housing, Planning and Urban Development
Ndirangu Gachunia is the CEC Department of Lands, Housing, Planning and Urban Development.
He is also the CEO of the Central Economic Region Bloc(CEREB) made up of the 10 Governors in the region
We paid him a courtesy call as we were to benchmark and learn from the implementation of the Conditional Grant KISIP 2
Budget Facilitator making submissions at the Municipality Citizen Fora and presentations of the unfair expiry of business licenses memorandum
Ngong Municipality manager receiving the written submission from Kajiado Budget Facilitator
