Siaya County completed a large-scale malaria prevention campaign aimed at reducing transmission in one of the country’s hardest-hit regions.
Kenya, with support from the United States Government, concluded a 21-day Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) exercise that covered all six sub-counties in Siaya.
The campaign protected an estimated 1,161,843 residents by spraying 255,556 structures, marking the first time IRS has been implemented across the entire county.
Health officials say the initiative is designed to reduce malaria transmission at the household level while strengthening Kenya’s long-term public health systems.
For residents such as Margaret Atieno Odongo, the campaign offers hope against a disease that has long affected families in the region.
She expressed gratitude to health workers who sprayed her home, noting that malaria had forced her to spend significant amounts of money on treatment for herself and her children.
“Mosquitoes have troubled me for a long time. I have spent a lot of money seeking treatment for malaria. I am grateful to the government for remembering us and supporting us,” she said.
Malaria remains a major public health challenge in western Kenya. According to health data, Siaya recorded a malaria incidence rate of 561 cases per 1,000 people in 2025, far above the national average of 70 per 1,000.
Community health promoter Francisca Aluoch Lunda said the spraying exercise is expected to significantly lower infections in the county and surrounding regions.
She noted that while mosquito net distribution had previously helped reduce infections slightly, the addition of IRS could further cut transmission rates.
Since 2007, the United States has invested more than $500 million in supporting Kenya’s malaria control programs.
Previous U.S.-supported IRS campaigns in neighbouring counties including Homa Bay County, Migori County, and Busia County have led to significant reductions in malaria cases and hospital admissions.
Susan Burns, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kenya, described the campaign as a targeted intervention designed to improve health outcomes and support long-term self-reliance.
“Providing targeted support to reduce malaria transmission in Siaya shows our commitment to helping communities become healthier, more productive, and less dependent on foreign assistance over time,” she said.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale thanked the United States for its continued support, noting that the campaign aligns with Kenya’s broader strategy focused on prevention and sustainable health solutions.
The spraying campaign was implemented through collaboration between the U.S. Government, the PMI Evolve Kenya initiative and the Siaya County Government.
While the U.S. Government funded the campaign, including insecticide procurement and operational costs, the county government supported community mobilization, recruitment of spray operators, and logistical coordination through local health facilities.
Meanwhile, a third round of U.S.-funded IRS spraying began in Busia County on March 9, 2026, extending the malaria prevention effort across western Kenya.
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