Hundreds of Bungoma County residents are now seeing the world with renewed clarity, thanks to a life-changing Free Eye Clinic organised by the Lions Club of Nairobi in partnership with Bungoma Senator David Wakoli.
The ambitious medical outreach targeted underprivileged communities across the county, including Mechimeru Health Centre, Mayanja in Kanduyi, Kaboroom in Mt. Elgon, and Sinoko in Webuye East, providing vital eye care services to those who have long struggled in silence with deteriorating vision due to lack of access or financial means.
The initiative offered free eye screenings, check-ups, cataract surgeries, prescription glasses, and medication, focusing particularly on the elderly and school-going children—the most vulnerable to untreated vision problems.
“My vision had been failing for the past three years. I couldn’t read, sew, or walk without bumping into things. I feared I was going blind,” shared 68-year-old Mama Ruth Wanjala from Mechimeru.
“Today, after the surgery, I can see again. I can read my Bible. Senator Wakoli didn’t just give me my sight back—he gave me my dignity.”
At the Mayanja site, 13-year-old Erick Simiyu received a pair of prescription glasses. Beaming with excitement, he said, “I used to struggle in class. I couldn’t see the blackboard, and I’d get headaches. My performance was dropping. But now, everything is clear. I’m so happy.”
The programme was bolstered by a collaboration of local volunteers, community health workers, and a dedicated team of medical professionals.
Bungoma’s County Executive Committee Member for Health, Chrispinus Barasa, praised the initiative, calling it a model for future healthcare interventions.
“This is the kind of leadership we need. Wakoli’s vision, together with the Lions Club’s support, is changing lives,” Barasa said during a site visit in Mt. Elgon.
“Eye care is often overlooked, yet it’s central to living a full life. This program is a blueprint we aim to expand.”
According to the Lions Club, 3,333 residents were screened across the four outreach locations.
Out of these, 1,825 received treatment for various eye conditions and infections, 290 were diagnosed with cataracts and are scheduled for free surgeries at Bungoma County Referral Hospital.
The surgeries will be carried out by a joint team of Lions Club eye specialists and Bungoma County medical staff, ensuring both expertise and continuity of care.
Beyond treatment, beneficiaries also received free medication and prescription spectacles, offering not just temporary relief but long-term support for better vision.
Wakoli, who personally visited all four camps, said the eye clinic is just the beginning of a broader healthcare vision for Bungoma.
“No one in Bungoma should suffer in silence or darkness because they can’t afford medical care,” he said.
“Whether it’s a grandmother trying to live independently or a child trying to learn in school, clear vision opens up new possibilities. This is how we build a healthier, more hopeful Bungoma.”
As the programme concluded in Sinoko, Webuye East, residents gathered to express heartfelt gratitude to the medical teams and county officials.
by Allan Kisia
