When Joseph Lenkari arrived at Olkaria, Kajiado South for a free medical camp, the red dust clinging to his trousers and the worn soles of his shoes told a story of distance, struggle, and hope.
The 46-year-old father of four had walked for miles to reach the camp, which to him was now the nearest health facility from his home. His first words were simple. “We still have hope.”
Shortly after settling on a bench, Lenkari humbly asked for a cup of water before joining the queue for a medical check-up. He shared stories of the health challenges his community faces daily where distance, poverty, and lack of infrastructure make healthcare nearly inaccessible.
The free medical camp, held in partnership with Entepesi Kenya, Rocky Vista University (USA), Kilimanjaro Mission Hospital, and Amref Health Africa-Kenya, was more than just a medical outreach for many locals but a life-saving intervention.
Entepesi Kenya (EK) is a grassroots NGO established in 2021 to bridge healthcare access gaps in rural Kajiado County. Named after the entepesi a Maasai acacia tree symbolizing healing
Several patients with urgent conditions like different cancers for both men and women, Pneumonia among children, often misunderstood and dismissed as witchcraft, were diagnosed and referred for immediate care.
On June 19, Lenkari’s village was one of 12 sites across Kajiado South that hosted free medical camps with top notch expertise and medication. Seated just behind the local church, with the Entepesi banner flapping gently behind him shielding him from the scorching sun, Lenkari reflected on the rare opportunity he had received.
“We are here today because of a free medical outreach brought to us by Entepesi Kenya and their partners,” he said. “We are grateful. People came in large numbers because we got the information early.”
As he continued with the process, he kept on insisting on his plea for clean water, better roads, a nearby clinic, and schools for their children.
“If we get clean water, we will feel like we have been healed, lack of access to clean water keeps us getting sick every now and then,” he adds.
Bringing Hope
Long distances to health facilities have left Lenkari’s Olkaria village vulnerable and underserved in Kajiado County’s remote villages. This is highlighted by the nearest facility being at Njarai which is14 kilometers away.
“For residents in Imbirikani, it is over 40 kilometers to access a healthy facility according to Martin Soipei, a resident of Olbili.
“Another nearest hospital is 35 kilometers towards Imbirikani is 40 kilometers, we have a big challenge in healthcare here.
Samantha Shackleton founder Entepesi Kenya noted with concern the challenges faced by the locals in the entire Kajiado South.
“The closest health center is over 10 kilometers away and has only one nurse,” said Samantha Shackleton, founder of Entepesi Kenya. “There is no laboratory, no pharmacy, people simply can’t access the care they need.”
“The biggest challenge here is poor health-seeking behavior,” added Jackson Yapas, Health Officer for Kajiado South. “People wait until illnesses are severe before seeking care.”
During the camps, clinicians encountered people who had never seen a doctor. Some mothers had never attended antenatal clinics. Several children had missed all their routine immunizations.
“We saw children with zero immunization history,” noted Obed Katia, Co-Founder of Entepesi Kenya. “We’re offering health education alongside treatment so the community understands the importance of early care.”
During the excise, a total of 97 immunizations were given, with 30 antenatal clinics visits, 297 nutrition visits, additionally 11 malnutrition cases were recorded and referred and 19 new cases of hypertension
In partnership with Rocky Vista University (USA), the camp provided comprehensive services ranging from general consultations and dental checkups to cervical cancer screening and HIV testing. Mental health assessments were also conducted for the first time in the area.
“We’re diagnosing many with undetected mental health challenges,” said Dr. Brandon Hall, Lecturer at Rocky Vista. “Others received blood tests, referrals, and prescriptions services they have never had before.”
Over the 12-day outreach, the team treated an average of 150–200 patients per day, reaching a total of 1,827 individuals by the end of the initiative.
Equity in Health
“These medical camps are not just about numbers, they are about dignity and access,” said Samantha Shackleton. “We’re reaching people who are too often forgotten.”
The initiative also fostered cross-cultural learning, with U.S. and Kenyan students and doctors working side by side strengthening community trust and building lasting relationships.
The success of the camp emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable investment in mobile health infrastructure, especially in remote regions with limited coverage.
According to data by Devolution Knowledge Hub, by the ministry of devolution, Kajiado county has 92 community health units initiated out of which only 78 are active. The doctor population ratio is 1:26,094. Kajiado County
Public Health Staff is 1: 7,619, and the nurse population ratio is 1: 1,068. The average distance to a health facility is 14.3 km with only 9.9 percent of the population within a distance of less than a Kilometer to a health facility.
“Our journey is far from over,” said Obed Katia a founder Entepesi Kenya “But every patient we serve brings us closer to a healthier, more equitable future.”
