• This initiative positions cleanliness not merely as an environmental concern, but as a frontline defence against preventable diseases.

The Ministry of Health has intensified the nationwide “Epuka Uchafu” campaign, with Bomet County becoming the latest region to activate the cleanliness drive aimed at strengthening disease prevention through improved hygiene and sanitation.

This initiative positions cleanliness not merely as an environmental concern, but as a frontline defence against preventable diseases.

Dr. Grace Ikahu, Acting Director of Public Health & Sanitation, led the activation in Bomet, paying a courtesy call on Governor Hillary Barchok.

Discussions focused on advancing preventive healthcare through improved household hygiene, sanitation, and sustainable waste management, while enhancing collaboration on community mobilisation and public health awareness.

Governor Barchok welcomed the campaign, underscoring its role in entrenching a culture of preventive health across the county.

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Hillary Barchok, Governor of Bomet County, during a courtesy call by the delegation from Ministry of Health (Photo Credit: Ministry of Health/ X).

On August 15, 2025, the Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni Muriuki outlined the broader vision of the campaign:

“This campaign envisions that every third Saturday of the month, Kenyans across all 47 counties will come out together for Public Health Action Day.”

She added that the movement rests on four pillars: personal hygiene, environmental hygiene, health protection at ports of entry, and access to clean water and sanitation.

Lessons from Nakuru

Bomet joins counties already embracing the initiative with measurable impact. In Nakuru, the drive has gained momentum through sanitation enforcement and community sensitisation.

The Epuka Uchafu initiative continues to gain momentum as public health teams scale up action to protect communities from preventable diseases through improved sanitation, hygiene, and enforcement. (Photo credit: County Government of Nakuru/ Facebook)

Clean‑up activities at high‑risk spots including Naivasha Sub‑County Hospital, Njoro Matatu Stage, and Molo Market—have involved residents, traders, and local leaders.

Public sanitation efforts have also extended to transport hubs, where facilities were disinfected and users educated to sustain Open Defecation Free Zones. Community units in Kuresoi South carried out Ngarisha Zahanati activities at dispensaries.

Public health officers issued statutory notices to premises illegally discharging wastewater, with several complying immediately. Schools intensified hygiene education, reinforcing handwashing practices.

The partnership between national and county governments strengthens enforcement of sanitation regulations and institutionalises monthly public health action days. Statutory notices and immediate compliance highlight the campaign’s ability to deliver quick wins for environmental health.

As the campaign expands, the Ministry of Health continues to rally wananchi to take collective responsibility for clean homes, schools, markets, and public spaces. The message is clear: disease prevention begins with cleanliness.

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