Living Goods and Kakamega County Government, Kenya have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen the county’s community health system and improve care for 2.3 million people. The MoU marks exciting growth for Living Goods, which is now serving 5 county Governments across Kenya.

As part of the new partnership, the county government will ensure that the 4,250 community health promoters (CHPs) are equipped with digital devices and community health kits to support service delivery for those that need it most. Enhancing supervision is one of the most recognized ways to improve community health service and the Kakamega Government will give access to digital tools for both supervisors and focal persons to offer the necessary support supervision to improve outcomes. Most importantly, they have committed to ensuring resources are available to fund planned community health activities through their annual budget.

“We want to ensure that community health services reach households reliably, that health workers are supported to perform their roles effectively, and that county leaders can use timely, accurate data to identify gaps and act on them,” said Livingstone Imbayi, County Executive Committee Member for Health.

As Kakamega Government’s performance partner for community health, Living Goods will provide technical support to improve system functionality, strengthen performance management and enhance reporting, building on structures and investments already established by the county. The target is to improve maternal and child health indicators, health services delivery, and drive greater efficiency in a place where 4.5% of children die before their fifth birthday.

“Our role now is to support the county’s priorities and embed technical skills and institutional capacity so that Kakamega can sustain progress long after Living Goods has exited,” said Christine Namayanja, Country Director, Living Goods Kenya.

The Kakamega Government has made strong investments in community health in previous years. It has distributed digital devices to thousands of community health promoters across all 12 sub counties and provides monthly stipends; providing a strong basis for the work ahead.

The partnership outlined in the MOU aims to position Kakamega among Kenya’s top five counties on the national eCHIS dashboard, not simply as a measure of digital activity, but as evidence of a stronger, more accountable community health system delivering care where it matters most.

Achieving this will require more than digital connectivity. It will depend on effective supervision, consistent reporting, reliable supplies, a motivated workforce, and the use of data to guide decisions at every level of the health system.