USAID USAWA Project Launched to Strengthen Health Governance and Citizen Engagement in Counties

The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) alongside its consortium partners attended the official launch of the USAID-funded United Society Against Fraud, Waste and Abuse (USAWA) program.

The USAWA program aims to strengthen fiscal accountability, health governance and citizen engagement within Kenya’s healthcare sector in Isiolo, Kakamega, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Nakuru Counties. The project is implemented by Transparency International-Kenya, in conjunction with AMWIK, Global Compact, and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya.

Additionally, the event marked the launch of two other USAID county support programs for effective governance and citizen participation. The three programs are summarized below:

• USAID USAWA:  The program is dedicated to making healthcare in Kenya better for everyone by improving transparency and enforcement of regulations. It will bring together citizens, businesses, media, and the faith community to increase awareness of their rights as healthcare consumers, encourage reporting of fraud and abuse, and develop their skills to advocate together for transparency and accountability.
• USAID Ubora Mashinani: This program equips grassroots organizations with the skills to design impactful policy advocacy campaigns and actively participate in county planning and budgeting processes.
• Closing Gaps in Devolved Health Service Delivery for Select Counties: This program focuses on training financial experts to support county governments, collaborate with County Assemblies to improve oversight of healthcare spending, and strengthen health policies and regulations.

“Together, these programs represent a significant investment in Kenya’s future, empowering local communities to enhance governance and service delivery, critical for national development,” remarked USAID Kenya and East Africa Mission Director David Gosney.

Nakuru County Governor, Susan Kihika, who officiated the launch, expressed her appreciation for USAID’s ongoing support. “The launch of these programs signifies a crucial step forward for our counties. They will equip us to identify service delivery gaps, cultivate citizen engagement, and address policy weaknesses,” Governor Kihika remarked.

As a media partner, AMWIK will utilize its platforms to enhance public access to information concerning healthcare-related public financial processes and policies, educating them about the adverse impacts of corruption in healthcare and empowering grassroots efforts to combat it. 

Through campaigns informed by action research findings, AMWIK aims to raise public awareness, an initiative which will involve strengthening the capacity of journalists and editors through training in health reporting, health system financing, and public procurement procedures. 

The launch also included different organization representatives signing commitments for project implementation as well as engaging panel discussions which explored innovative strategies and approaches for each program.