Departments

MAKUENI LAUNCHES COUNTYWIDE TAX DISCOUNT ROADSHOW TO BOOST REVENUE COLLECTION

The Department of Finance on Monday launched a countywide tax discount roadshow aimed at encouraging traders to comply with tax obligations and enhance revenue collection across the county.

The initiative includes a tax discount programme running from March 9, 2026, targeting small-scale traders who form the majority of taxpayers in the county.

Under the programme, traders paying less than KSh 10,000 will receive a 10 percent discount, while those paying above KSh 10,000 will benefit from a five percent discount.

Speaking while flagging off the campaign at Wote Bus Park, County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning Damaris Kavoi emphasized the critical role of taxes in driving development across the county.

Kavoi also highlighted the benefits of the digitized tax payment systems, noting that residents can now conveniently access services without the need to travel long distances.

The five-day roadshow began on Monday and covered several areas including Wote, Kilala, Mukuyuni, Kikima, Kalawani, Tawa and Mbumbuni, as part of efforts to reach traders directly and sensitize them on the tax discount initiative.

MAKUENI WOMEN MARK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WITH CALL FOR JUSTICE

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Monday led Makueni County in commemorating International Women’s Day during celebrations held at Green Park in Wote.

The event, themed “Rights. Justice. Action for All Women and Girls,” brought together women from across the county alongside schoolgirls to champion a unified call for justice, equity and empowerment.

Discussions during the event highlighted key issues including economic empowerment, access to education and skills development, climate sustainability, leadership and representation, as well as the importance of solidarity and collaboration among women.

Meryline Mbithe, a mother of five from Mbooni, shared her personal experience of surviving Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). Addressing the gathering, she encouraged women facing violence not to remain silent or endure abuse, but to seek help from relevant authorities.

Mulili, reiterated the county government’s commitment to protecting survivors and promoting gender equality. She highlighted several legal frameworks in place to safeguard the rights of survivors, including the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence policy, the Gender Policy and the Children’s Policy.

Through partnerships with development partners, she pointed out, the county government’s commitment to invest in the next generation of girls by supporting programs that address adolescent health, nutrition and reproductive health education.

Mulili was accompanied by Gender CECM Sebastian Kyoni, Chief Officers’ Nickolis Kaunde (Gender) and Felistus Mutune (Office of the Governor), as well as County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa.

UJUZI TEKETEKE PROGRAMME EQUIPS YOUTHS WITH TOOLS FOR SELF-RELIANCE

17 young people in Kikumbulyu North Ward have received tools of trade to start their own bisiness ventures under the Ujuzi Teketeke Programme,

The initiative spearhead by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services aims at empowering young people with practical skills and opportunities for self-employment.

Speaking during the distribution exercise, Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni noted that the programme will continue to roll out in other wards across the county as part of efforts to empower more youths through skills development and enterprise support.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO Jr. FORMS TASKFORCE TO REFORM MAKUENI MANGO VALUE CHAIN

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has established a taskforce to overhaul the mango value chain in Makueni County, in a bid to curb chronic post-harvest losses and improve earnings for farmers.

The team established under an Executive Order number 2 of 2026 has been mandated to design and spearhead reforms aimed at eliminating mango wastage after harvest, stabilizing farm-gate prices and ensuring more predictable incomes for growers across the county.

The taskforce will also propose measures to reduce farmers’ reliance on brokers, a long-standing concern that has weakened producers’ bargaining power and exposed them to volatile prices.

Among its core responsibilities will be preparing the county’s mango sector for export markets by strengthening quality standards, improving coordination among actors in the supply chain and enhancing aggregation and supply systems.

The team is further expected to develop a framework to ensure sustainable operations at the Makueni County Mango Processing Plant, a county-run facility established to promote value addition and reduce fruit wastage during peak harvest seasons.

Governor Kilonzo has directed the taskforce to submit a comprehensive report within three weeks outlining actionable recommendations and an implementation roadmap for transforming the sector.

Makueni County is one of Kenya’s leading mango-producing regions, but farmers have for years struggled with high post-harvest losses, fluctuating prices and heavy dependence on middlemen.

The newly appointed taskforce comprises Mr. Nzioka King’ola, Eng. Josphat Musyoki, Eng. Petronila Ogut, Mr. John Thiong’o, Ms. Caroline Ngina and Ms. Dorcus Mutua.

THE SAFARICOM TEAM PAID A COURTESY CALL ON MAKUENI COUNTY.

The Safaricom team paid a courtesy call on Makueni County as part of efforts to better understand customer needs and network coverage gaps in the region. The team, led by Mark Oyier, Head of Department for Business Support Systems, sought to gain first-hand insights into service delivery and connectivity challenges within the county.

The Makueni County Deputy Governor hosted the delegation and expressed appreciation to Safaricom for its continued support and collaboration in improving the lives of Makueni residents. The Deputy Governor highlighted the company’s partnerships with the county in key sectors including health, water, and trade.

SIX DAIRY COOPERATIVES RECEIVE OVER KSH 7.9 MILLION TO CUSHION FARMERS AGAINST DROUGHT

Six dairy farmers’ cooperative societies in Makueni have received a cumulative KSh. 7,975,000 under the Drought Mitigation Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) to strengthen livestock farmers’ resilience during the ongoing dry spell.

The grants, issued on different days throughout the week, are intended at improving farmers’ access to quality livestock feeds and veterinary inputs following the failed October–November–December rains.

Through the intervention, cooperatives will procure and resell essential inputs such as hay bales, mineral licks, dairy and range cubes, cotton hulls and dewormers to sustain milk production and protect farmer incomes.

Speaking during a cheque issuance to Kibwezi Dairy Farmers Cooperative on Wednesday, Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli said the initiative will help stabilize dairy productivity and ensure livestock remain well nourished as farmers await the next rainy season. She urged the cooperatives to adhere strictly to grant guidelines and ensure prudent use of the funds.

Other beneficiary cooperatives include Kitise Farmers Cooperative, Makiou Farmers Dairy Cooperative, Twakima Farmers Cooperative, Kibwezi East Farmers Cooperative and Kalawa Dairy Farmers Cooperative.

MAKUENI TO ROLL OUT NEW DIGITAL SYSTEM TO CURB MEDICINE THEFT

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has announced that Makueni County will roll out a new system to monitor the administration of medicine in public health facilities, in a move aimed at sealing corruption loopholes and enhancing transparency in the health sector.

The governor said the system, which will track the distribution and use of drugs across county facilities, is designed to weed out theft and misuse of medical supplies.

On healthcare infrastructure, he outlined ongoing investments, including the construction of a Sh34 million hospital in Kambu and a Sh70 million facility in Kibwezi, with another project in Kinyambu in the pipeline. He said the county’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program is intended to ease the financial burden of healthcare, which continues to disproportionately affect low-income households.

The governor spoke in Nzayo, Ivingoni/Nzambani Ward, during the burial of Onesmus Kyalo Maitha, who was eulogized as a hardworking and community-conscious individual. Governor Mutula also pledged support for the education of the late Kyalo’s children.

Late Kyalo lost his life through a tragic accident.

EMPOWERING FARMERS THROUGH FIELD-LED LEARNING

A team of 38 Community Based Facilitators (CBFs) and 28 Agriculture Extension Officers supported through National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) are undergoing an intensive training on Farmer Field and Business Schools (FFBS) methodology; an approach for accelerating farmer adoption of Technology, Innovation and Management Practices (TIMPs).

The training equips CBFs—local farmers trained as peer educators—to lead FFBS sites within their wards, turning them into hubs for practical learning, innovation and shared problem-solving.

Speaking during a visit to the training on Wednesday, Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli said the programme focuses on establishing FFBS sites, training of trainers, value addition, market linkages through farmer producer organizations and regular field support to ensure impact at farm level.

Drawn from across the county, the participants will engage farmers in hands-on, participatory sessions that help boost productivity along key agricultural value chains while sharpening essential business and market skills.

The visit was also attended by Ag. Chief Officer Felistus Mutune and Directors Mary Muteti, Esther Kivindyo, and Dr. Musyoki—underscoring the county’s commitment to farmer-centered growth.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE HOSTS FORUM WITH TRADEMARK AFRICA TO INTEGRATE KILIMO MAKUENI INTERGRATED SYSTEM (KMIS) WITH iSOKO

The Department of Agriculture, led by CECM Elizabeth Muli, on Wednesday hosted a collaborative forum with Trademark Africa to strengthen digital solutions for farmers through the integration of the Kilimo Makueni Integrated System (KMIS) with iSOKO.

KMIS is Makueni County’s digital agriculture platform designed to link farmers directly with extension officers, agronomic advice and production data, supporting informed and timely farm decisions.

Whereas, iSOKO is an information and market-digital platform currently in seven African countries that seeks to create a unified digital trade ecosystem through linkages to market, trade information and business support services across borders .

The integration will enhance service delivery, improve market access, exploration of alternative markets through intra-africa trade and empower farmers with reliable, real-time information to grow productivity and incomes.

MAKUENI STRENGTHENS EXPORT TIES TO GROW FARMER INCOMES

The County Government of Makueni has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding horticultural exports after a high-level review meeting with TradeMark Africa partners on the progress of the Makueni Export Supply Hub (ESH) programme.

The meeting, hosted by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, brought together key development partners, including Rodrigo Romero Van Cutsem of the EU Delegation to Kenya, Amarins Gerlofsma from the Embassy of the Netherlands, Anne Nalo of the British High Commission, and Joan Karanja from the Embassy of Sweden.

Mulili noted that since the partnership was signed in May 2025, the programme has delivered tangible results—training thousands of farmers on Good Agricultural Practices, strengthening pest control through fruit fly traps, operationalising packhouses, and improving direct linkages between farmer groups and export markets.

The delegation toured Greenfields Demonstration Farm and Iviani Farm in Muvau/Kikumini Ward, before visiting the Kibwezi Packhouse, where they witnessed progress in certification readiness, aggregation, value addition, and youth-led agribusinesses.

Mango, which accounts for 75 percent of the county’s fruit production and supports more than 71,000 farm families, remains the anchor of the export strategy, with improved standards compliance helping reduce post-harvest losses and raise farmer earnings.

The visit—attended by TradeMark Africa Country Director Lillian Mwai, CECM for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli, and Acting Chief Officer Felistus Mutune—reaffirmed the county’s focus on expanding Areas of Low Pest Prevalence, strengthening certification systems, and diversifying export markets.

Through these strategic partnerships, Makueni continues to position itself as a competitive horticultural export hub, delivering jobs, higher incomes, and inclusive growth in line with the development agenda of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.