Siaya County Stakeholders Pledge Support for Indoor Residual Spraying to Reduce Malaria Burden

GENERAL
Edna Osuo
0 Comments

Stakeholders in Siaya County have pledged full support for the upcoming Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) program aimed at reducing malaria infections, which currently stand at 29 per cent, making Siaya the second-highest malaria-burdened county in Kenya after Busia.
The IRS exercise, scheduled to run from February 1 to February 21, 2026, will target approximately 256,000 households, protecting an estimated 1.1 million people across the county.

Speaking during the first-ever IRS stakeholders’ forum held in Siaya, Dr. Kennedy Odhiambo Orwenjo, the County Director of Public Health, urged residents to cooperate with spray teams and allow the exercise to be conducted in their homes.

“Today is a great day for us as Siaya County as we hold our first IRS stakeholders’ forum. We are urging the community to be receptive to the indoor residual spraying exercise that will take place in Siaya. IRS is one of the key strategies under the malaria control framework that helps reduce malaria prevalence when combined with other interventions,” said Dr. Orwenjo.

He assured residents that the insecticides to be used have been approved by relevant authorities and that the personnel conducting the spraying are well trained.

“We want to assure the people of Siaya that the insecticides to be used are safe, approved, and will be applied by trained personnel under strict supervision,” he added.

Madam Zeddie Bore taking the team through the over view of PMI

The meeting brought together county health officials, sub-county commissioners, church leaders, malaria champions, and media representatives, all of whom emphasized the importance of community sensitization and collaboration to ensure the success of the program.
PMI Evolve Kenya, a key partner in the program, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Siaya County in the implementation of the IRS exercise.

“My name is Zeddie Bore, Deputy Country Lead at PMI Evolve Kenya. We are supporting Siaya County in planning and implementing the indoor residual spraying program by providing logistics and technical support. The funding for this initiative is from the United States Department of State,” said Ms. Bore.

Stakeholders present pledged to educate communities on the benefits of IRS and encouraged residents to open their homes to spray teams when the exercise begins.

Ms. Bore emphasized that while IRS is highly effective in killing malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, it should be implemented alongside other malaria prevention measures.

“The insecticide used is proven to be very effective in killing mosquitoes, but it must go hand in hand with other interventions such as the use of mosquito nets, larval source management, malaria vaccination for children, and preventive treatment for pregnant women,” she said.

County health officials expressed optimism that with strong stakeholder involvement and community cooperation, the IRS program will significantly reduce malaria infections and improve public health outcomes in Siaya County.