SPEECH BY H.E.

MARGARET KENYATTA, THE FIRST LADY OF

THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA, DURING THE OFFICIAL HANDING
OVER OF THE 19TH FULLY KITTED BEYOND ZERO MOBILE
CLINIC TO THARAKA NITHI COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 11, 2015
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to join you in your beautiful county to hand over the
19th fully kitted Beyond Zero mobile clinic. It is always an exciting
experience when the Beyond Zero team gets to inspire action and
change the lives of Kenyans especially mothers and children.
On behalf of the team, I wish to express my gratitude towards the
people and the leadership of Tharaka Nithi for the warm welcome you
have accorded us today.
Over the last year, we have gained vast knowledge of the issues that
plague our mothers and children in various parts of the country.
Through this clinic, we wish to partner and augment the health
services delivered in the County while leveraging on the available
resources. I say leverage because the mobile clinic will rely on the
County resources to run sustainably.
I am aware that though some challenges that our people face are
unique to their specific counties, some problems are shared among
communities.
One such challenge, prevalent in some counties including here, is the
continued practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on our young
girls.
FGM, has been practiced in Kenya for many years and in some
communities it is deeply enshrined in the customs and traditions of

the people.
But if we are to embrace a future that is truly progressive, we must relook at practices such as FGM that compromise the rights and health
of women. FGM denies women full control over their bodies and it has
no place in the 21st century.
In certain parts of Kenya, the situation has deteriorated to such an
extent that women and girls who have not received the cut face
rejection, with many failing to get marriage partners due to the stigma
associated with the practice.
Recently we celebrated the International Day of Zero Tolerance for
FGM. As a country, we must aspire to achieve a zero FGM status where every girl can go to school, find and fulfill her destiny, enjoy her
rights and contribute to nation building.
HIV and AIDS is also a challenge we must tackle comprehensively. A
lot has been done but much more needs to be done.
Tharaka Nithi County falls under the HIV Medium Incidence Cluster
with 8,760 people living with HIV by the end of 2013.
While this may look minimal, it is still a challenge to the county in
terms of provision of anti-retroviral drugs, treatment of opportunistic
infections and laboratory monitoring. There is thus a need to rethink
our preventive strategies.
The issue of early marriages also needs to be looked at in Tharaka
Nithi County. Many girls still enter motherhood at tender ages,
denying them a chance to get an education. This ultimately increases
their vulnerability to poverty and sexually transmitted diseases.
In conclusion, I wish to invite you all to join us for the 2 nd edition of the

First Lady's Half Marathon on the 8 th of March in support of the Beyond

Zero campaign. By running with us, you will be saving the lives of
countless mothers and children in the country through provision of
mobile clinics.
As you train for the marathon, which I hope you are doing, you will
also receive the beneficial effects of exercise, which in this day and
age of lifestyle diseases will keep your body healthy and fit.
May I now request you to join me in handing over the Beyond Zero
mobile clinic proudly donated by East African Breweries to your
Governor Samuel Ragwa, on behalf of the people of Tharaka Nithi.
Thank you.