Author: Faith Mumo
TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL AGRICULTURE
A total of 30 Community-Driven Development Committees (CDDCs) from across the county are currently undergoing a specialized administrative training program aimed at enhancing their understanding of institutional roles and responsibilities.
The committees, each formed by representatives from the agricultural value chain sectors of poultry, mango, tomato, apiculture and dairy farming are being prepared to serve as key links between the NAVCDP (National Agricultural Value Chain Development Program) and the local communities.
The training which began earlier this week is structured into six cohorts, with each cohort representing five wards. As of now, 20 wards have completed their sessions and the training is expected to wrap up by the third week of November for the remaining wards.
The goal of the CDDCs is to promote better governance and enhance community participation in agricultural value chain development, which is crucial for economic growth and improved livelihoods in the county.
During the training, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development Joyce Mutua emphasized the department’s commitment to supporting farmers. She further urged participants to focus on commercializing farming as a way to boost the county’s agricultural economy and improve market access for local produce.
The CECM was accompanied by Mary Muteti, the County Director for Agriculture, who also highlighted the importance of these committees in strengthening local agricultural initiatives and fostering sustainable development.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR 400 PWDs AS THEY GET MODERN WHEELCHAIRS
The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services in partnership with Hope Mobility Kenya has kicked off a 3-day exercise to fit and issue wheelchairs to 400 persons living with disabilities in the county.
The Sh 20M worth of chairs are modified and assembled to fit the specific needs of the beneficiaries in relation to their disability.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday flagged off the exercise at the Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre in Wote. He said this is part of his administration’s inclusivity agenda where no one is left behind in the county development agenda, their age, status in society or physical location notwithstanding.
The county government has a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Hope Mobility Kenya which will see more needy residents benefit from mobility assistive devices over the partnership period.
MAKUENI LAUNCHES WATER PROJECTS IN WOTE AND MAVINDINI TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE
County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Urban Planning & Development, Environment and Climate Change, Japheth Mang’oka, has unveiled contractors for two water enhancement projects in Wote and Mavindini.
The project in Wote involves the distribution of 100 cubic meters of water per hour from Kaiti 2 sand dam to Camarel in Wote town and Kaseve. This initiative aims to ensure the sustainable provision of water to over 3,000 residents in Wote and its environs.
In Mavindini, the contractor will construct a 100 cubic meters sump and install a 22-kilowatt solar pumping system at the Athi River intake. This project aims to provide clean water for domestic use to 2,500 households and water for irrigation to 400 households in the Katithi, Mavindini, and Ivinganzia sub-locations within Mavindini Sub-Ward.
The projects, co-funded by the county government and the World Bank under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program, are designed to enhance community resilience to drought and water scarcity. They also aim to build adaptive capacities to mitigate the impacts of climate change, natural hazards, and other environmental stressors.
MAKUENI’S GRADING AND GRAVELLING PROJECTS TO BOOST ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY
To strengthen connectivity and drive local economic growth, the Directorate of Infrastructure and Roads in Makueni County is diligently working to enhance access and mobility across multiple wards.
One of the key projects underway is the transformation of Mutulani- Ngangani road in Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba Ward, a stretch that has until now been only a footpath, navigable by bicycles and motorbikes. Through extensive grading, this path is being turned into a fully accessible road, opening it up for vehicle passage and making it significantly easier for farmers to transport their produce to market. Grading works are also ongoing to open up Kwa Vutu-Yumbani road in Mbitini Ward.
The county machinery is also on site at the bustling Machinery Market in Thange Ward, which springs to life every Tuesday with hundreds of traders and customers. Gravelling efforts are in full swing to make market days smoother and more comfortable for everyone. The improved road surface around the market will enable easier access for vehicles, reduce dust and mud and create a safer, more inviting environment for trade.
These road works are part of a larger commitment by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr administration to create a resilient, accessible and prosperous Makueni, where better roads mean stronger communities and a brighter future for local agriculture and trade.
