DAGORETTI: Thousands of residents on Saturday thronged Kabiro Primary School in Dagoretti North for a free medical camp, highlighting a desperate need for healthcare services in one of Nairobi’s most densely populated sub-counties.

The event, organized by parliamentary hopeful Bright Shitemi, all the residents within the constituency especially Kawangware majority struggle to afford basic medical consultation.

Addressing the crowd, Shitemi pointed to a systemic failure in the constituency’s health infrastructure, noting that existing public facilities are often under-equipped and plagued by chronic drug shortages.

“People are suffering. There are no health facilities where they can get the services they need, and the ones that do exist have no drugs,” Shitemi said.

“This is the situation that prompted me to organize this camp.”

Despite the political undertones of his bid for the seat currently held by Beatrice Elachi, Shitemi maintained that the initiative was born out of a humanitarian crisis rather than mere campaigning.

“This is not a political gimmick. This is an issue that requires the intervention of all leaders, whether they are currently elected or not,” he added.

Dagoretti North remains one of Nairobi’s most socio-economically diverse regions, stretching from the affluent suburbs of Kileleshwa to the crowded wards of Gatina, Kabiro, and Kawangware.

For the majority of residents in the latter areas, specialized treatment is a luxury.

Volunteers at the camp provided a range of services, including general check-ups, pediatric care, and the distribution of essential medicines, services that many attendees said they had gone without for months due to the high cost of private clinics.

As the race for the 2027 elections begins to take shape, Shitemi’s move signals a focus on “servant leadership” and direct community intervention as a primary campaign pillar.