The Ministry of Health has activated the Epuka Uchafu, Afya Nyumbani initiative in Kisumu County, signalling a major push to strengthen household-level hygiene as a pathway to preventive healthcare. The activation took place in Kisumu on Friday, July 18, 2025, and brings the total number of counties participating in the programme to six, with plans to scale it to all 47 counties.
Speaking at the rollout, Head of Port Health Services Benjamin Murkomen reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expand the initiative nationwide. He said Epuka Uchafu, Afya Nyumbani is built around sustained behaviour change in homes and neighbourhoods, where day-to-day practices can either reduce or amplify the spread of disease. Core focus areas include sanitation, proper waste handling and disposal, safe water storage and use, and broader environmental cleanliness.
Murkomen stressed that real impact will depend on strong collaboration between the national and county governments, community health promoters, and local leadership structures such as ward administrators, village elders, faith groups and school networks. By aligning technical guidance with local norms and leadership, the programme aims to embed good hygiene habits that last beyond campaign periods.
The initiative is also tied to Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, which places increased emphasis on preventive and promotive health services to reduce the burden on curative care systems. Health officials note that many communicable diseases linked to poor sanitation and contaminated environments remain preventable through consistent, low-cost actions at the household level. Improving these conditions can free up health resources, improve child survival, and enhance overall quality of life.
In the coming months, Kisumu households will be engaged through targeted community dialogues, demonstrations on safe waste management, promotion of handwashing facilities, and monitoring of household hygiene indicators. County public health teams will map high-risk settlements, track progress through simple scorecards, and recognise neighbourhood champions to incentivise sustained change over the next yearlong cycle. Counties already participating will share lessons on what works, helping refine training materials and community mobilization strategies ahead of the national scale-up.
Epuka Uchafu, Afya Nyumbani ultimately seeks to foster a culture of shared responsibility for health one where every household understands that cleaner compounds, safer water, and proper waste disposal are as essential to wellbeing as access to hospitals and clinics. With political will, community buy-in, and steady follow-through, Kisumu’s launch could mark an important step toward healthier homes across Kenya.
