Ambassador Mohamed Shidiye at the opening of Sheikh Bile Mark Medical Facility in Garissa. PHOTO/UGC.
By ABDULHAKIM SHERMAN
Kenya’s former ambassador to Botswana, Mr Mohamed Muktar Shidiye, has asked residents of Garissa to register for Social Health Authority (SHA) in large numbers so as to access medical services in different hospitals in the area.
Mr Shidiye made the call during the official opening of the Sheikh Bile Mark Medical Facility in Garissa, a newly inaugurated health centre expected to serve thousands in a region long plagued by medical shortfalls.
His message was not merely administrative but deeply emotional, underscoring the urgency of accessible healthcare and the collective responsibility to protect the region’s most vulnerable.
“Garissa residents need to register in large numbers with the SHA for medical coverage, which is beneficial for them,” Mr Shidiye urged, addressing a crowd of community members, elders, youth representatives, and fellow leaders.
The scene at Sheikh Bile Mark was filled with cautious optimism, as families gathered under the searing northeastern sun, hopeful that the new facility would mark a turning point.
For years, many in Garissa have struggled to access even basic medical care, often travelling vast distances or forgoing treatment altogether due to cost or lack of resources.
Ambassador Mohamed Shidiye tours Sheikh Bile Mark Medical Facility in Garissa. PHOTO/UGC.
In Garissa, healthcare isn’t just a service, it’s a lifeline that’s too often out of reach. Mothers have given birth without medical assistance, children have suffered from preventable diseases, and elders have lived in silent pain. The opening of the Sheikh Bile Mark Medical Facility is a small but significant step toward redressing this longstanding inequity.
The facility, which will operate under the SHA’s subsidised care model, aims to offer a wide range of services from maternity care to treatment for chronic illnesses, all at a fraction of the cost typically shouldered by local families.
“This facility brings us hope,” said Halima Noor, a mother of five from the outskirts of Garissa, who travelled more than 30 kilometres to attend the launch.
“We are tired of losing our people because we can’t afford hospital fees. If SHA can help us get treatment, we must register. We have no other choice.”
The SHA is a national initiative designed to ensure that all Kenyans, regardless of income or location, have access to basic healthcare. However, uptake in rural counties like Garissa has been slow, hindered by limited awareness, logistical barriers, and sometimes mistrust in government schemes.
Mr Shidiye, who was Kenya’s ambassador to Botswana and is widely respected in both diplomatic and political circles, hopes to change that narrative. His call for widespread SHA registration is part of a broader vision to improve the quality of life in Garissa.
“We cannot wait for miracles,” he said. “We must take action ourselves. Registering with SHA is not just a bureaucratic step—it is an investment in our lives, in the future of our children.”
While the healthcare message was at the heart of the event, Mr Shidiye also used the platform to drop a significant political announcement: his intent to run for Garissa Governor in the 2027 elections.
He asked for unity and support from the people, promising transformative leadership focused on development, accountability, and service delivery.
Employees and patients at Sheikh Bile Mark Medical Facility. PHOTO/UGC.
“I am not here today just as a former ambassador, but as your son, your brother, your servant,” he declared. “In 2027, I will stand before you not with promises, but with a plan, a plan to bring dignity, health, and opportunity to every corner of Garissa.”
Mr Shidiye’s speech struck a chord with many in attendance, particularly the youth, who often feel neglected by political leadership. Among the audience were youth representatives Umulas Wallahi and Towfiq, both of whom applauded the focus on health and social inclusion.
“We need leaders who walk the talk,” said Wallahi. “Mr Shidiye is showing us what leadership looks like, solving problems, not creating them.”
The event was also attended by local leaders including Modogashe MCA Hon. Mahat Damajaley and MCA Hon. Omar Abdi, who expressed their support for Mr Shidiye’s health campaign and hinted at broader alignment ahead of the 2027 race.
Community elders and stakeholders praised the initiative as a critical step toward sustainable development. As traditional songs and ululations echoed through the crowd, there was a palpable sense of change—tentative but real.
While the inauguration of a single facility and the urging of SHA registration may seem like modest milestones, in Garissa, they represent something more profound: hope.
Hope that the health of a child won’t depend on a family’s income. Hope that elections will bring meaningful change, not empty slogans. And hope that, for once, leaders will lead with compassion, not just ambition.
As the sun set over Garissa and the Sheikh Bile Mark facility opened its doors, the message was clear, healing has begun, and the journey to a healthier, more equitable future is underway.
Ambassador Mohamed Shidiye being tested for highblood pressure. PHOTO/UGC.
Whether Mr Shidiye’s gubernatorial bid succeeds remains to be seen. But for now, his rallying call for healthcare and unity has resonated, lighting a beacon for a community that has too often felt left in the dark.
