Nairobi County residents will no longer have to move from one office to another in search of county services. The government has announced that several services in Nairobi County are now available at the Huduma Centres in Eastleigh, Kibra, and Makadara.
For many Nairobians, getting county services has been a daunting task, with many spending a whole day walking from office to office, mainly at the county headquarters. However, this new move will help ease the situation.
Currently, county services such as the payment of land rates, parking fees, and the application or renewal of business permits can be accessed at the Huduma Centres.
Small business owners will likely be the biggest beneficiaries of this new move. For instance, instead of closing up shop to seek permits, small businesses can now access the permits at the Huduma Centres.
City planning services have also been taken closer to the people. Any individual with issues to do with zoning, development approval, or construction-related matters can now access the services at the same Huduma Centres.
Further, residents of the county can access information regarding health programs, social support services, and environmental issues without the need to access various departments.
Huduma Centres have increasingly become one-stop shop centers for government services. Besides the county services, other Huduma Centres, including GPO, City Square, Makadara, and Kibra, also offer Judiciary services.
Residents of the county can access services related to e-filing of cases, payment of court fines, and checking the status of cases at the Huduma Centres.
This move is a continuation of the efforts of the previous Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) government, where some of the services were taken to the national government.
To the residents of the county, the most important thing may be a simple matter: fewer trips, shorter queues, and quicker services. If well harnessed, the new desks at Eastleigh, Kibra, and Makadara could save Nairobians time and money spent on transport.