Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Environment

Makueni County Crowned SDG Champion

Makueni County has once again been named Kenya’s best-performing county in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), winning the prestigious award for the sixth consecutive year. The accolade was presented to Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. by Florence Syevuo, Executive Director of the SDG Forum Kenya, on Wednesday during a ceremony at his Wote office.

The county’s success is anchored on innovative policies like the Makueni Universal Health Policy 2020 and Climate Change Fund Regulations 2015, addressing healthcare access, climate resilience, and social inclusion. By aligning SDGs with its County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023-2027 and Annual Development Plans, Makueni ensures precise progress tracking and impactful implementation.

Institutional frameworks, including a dedicated SDGs Coordinating Unit and grassroots SDG champions, have bolstered coordination and community ownership. Creative outreach, such as translating SDGs into the Kamba dialect and the SDG anthem by the Makueni Choir, has deepened public awareness.

Another contributing factor is partnerships with organizations like the World Resources Institute and Strathmore University which have enhanced capacity-building and the integration of global sustainability practices. Robust data tools, including an SDG Indicator Handbook, have also supported evidence-based decision-making and accountability.

Lauding Makueni’s leadership, Syevuo noted, “Makueni has proven that sustainable development is achievable through visionary leadership and community involvement, setting a benchmark for others to follow.”

USAID ENVIRONMENT AND FOOD SECURITY BOSS VISITS MAKUENI FOR A TOUR OF JOINT WATER PROJECTS

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. hosts USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator for Resilience, Environment and Food Security Mia Beers for a development tour of Makueni.

The envoy is touring water projects developed by USAID through STAWI in partnership with the Makueni County Government to appreciate their community impact.

The projects include Kaiti 2 water project set to provide water to residents of Sarova area near Wote for domestic use and micro- irrigation. Others are solarizarization of Mwaani borehole and construction of a 300 cubic meters treatment sump at Kamunyolo.

The projects are meant to increase access to clean potable water for Wote town and water for climate smart farming to enhance food security.

MAKUENI KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN TO GROW 1 MILLION TREES

The Department of Lands through the Directorate of Environment has launched a campaign to grow 1 million trees in the October-November-December rain season.

The exercise is part of a greater initiative by the County Government of Makueni to plant and grow 344M trees by the year 2032 to restore degraded landscapes and forests.

The exercise was launched by County Executive Committee Member Japheth Mang’oka flanked by Chief Officer Geoffrey Muthoka, representatives of Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Forest Research Institute and Community Forest Association at Kalumbi Forest in Mbitini Ward, Makueni Sub-county.

Acting Director Climate Change Jackline Kamusa says a greater percentage of the trees are fruit trees, to be given to farmers to ensure food resilience in the wake of climate change.

To weed out the menacing illegal felling of trees for charcoal and timber, Mang’oka said the county government has enlisted the support of Community Forest Associations for policing and intelligence sharing on the perpetrators of this environmental destruction.

MAKUENI INTENSIFIES LANDSCAPE RESTORATION OF DEGRADED LANDS

Makueni’s Department of Lands, in partnership with FAO and the European Union under the Digital Land Governance Programme, has completed a two-day capacity building workshop for Muambwani and Kalumbi Community Forests restoration stakeholders.

The training is geared towards equipping the stakeholders, among them the community, with necessary information for participatory forest management planning, build synergies among the different stakeholders and carry out monitoring and evaluation of the Muambwani-Kalumbi Community Forest restoration progress.

The training brought together community members, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and ICRAF representatives.

County Chief Officer in charge of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change Geoffrey Muthoka reiterated Makueni’s determination to restore degraded landscapes while encouraging the planting of high-value trees in both public and private farmlands.

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.

EXPECT DEPRESSED RAINS, WEATHERMAN WARNS 

Makueni County is expected to receive depressed rains in the October-November-December rain season according to the Kenya Meteorological Department. 

The county’s upper ecological zone (Mbooni, Kithungo/Kitundu, Kilungu, Ilima, Ukia, Kee) expects an average rainfall of 310mm- 490mm, while the middle zone ((Tulimani, Kako/Waia, Kisau/Kiteta, Kasikeu, Mukaa, Kiimakiu/Kalanzoni, Nzakika, Emali/Mulala, Wote/Nziu, Muvau/Kikumini and Mbitini) expects 250-430mm of rainfall. 

The lower ecological zone (Makindu, Nguu/Masumba, Kalawa, Kikumbulyu South, Kikumbulyu North, Nguumo, Thange, Ivingoni/Nzambani, Mavindini, Kathonzweni, Kitise/Kithuki, Masongaleni and Mtito Andei) expect 190 – 310mm of rainfall.

The rains are projected to start between October 26th and November 8th and cease between 1st and 15th December 2024.

The County Climate Change Unit advises farmers to plant low rain crops and where possible massively harvest water for irrigation.

CLIMATE CHANGE STEERING COMMITTEE INDUCTED ON RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

The newly appointed Makueni County Climate Change Steering Committee has completed a two-day induction on climate change management.

The induction, conducted by officers from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry- Directorate of Climate Change and County Government, focused on policy frameworks, climate change financing mechanisms, and the different stakeholders in the national and international climate change space. The committee also learned about developing simplified climate change resilience initiatives that wananchi can identify with.

Additionally, the committee was briefed on the five-year Makueni County Climate Change Action Plan (2023-2027), which will guide fundraising for climate action.

The committee now faces the crucial task of developing bankable climate change financing proposals and mobilizing resources to finance locally-led climate actions in the county.

MAKUENI COUNTY MARKED THIS YEAR’S WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Makueni County Marked this year’s World Environment Day with a commitment to accelerated land restoration and drought resilience through re-engineering agricultural practices, community driven afforestation programs, protection of key water towers, building sand dams, surface runoff water harvesting and investment in solar energy to reduce pressure on wood fuel.

County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Urban Planning & Development, Environment and Climate Change Nicholas Nzioka who led the celebration at Thange said Makueni is working with other partners to build a sustainable environment for all.

MAKUENI, KWS PARTNER TO END HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN KIBWEZI EAST

Makueni, KWS partner to End Human-wildlife Conflict in Kibwezi East

In a bid to mitigate the long-standing human-wildlife conflict in Kibwezi East, Makueni has partnered with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to extend the protective electric fence by 20km.

The new 20km Wandei- Ngomano section extends the initial 60km Kamunyu-Wandei fence earlier erected by the county government.

This expansion aims to establish a buffer between Tsavo East National Park and human settlements, effectively curbing the numerous attacks on humans by marauding animals, especially elephants.

The contract for this crucial extension was awarded in a ceremony presided over by KWS representative of Senior Assistant Director for Tsavo conservation area Jeremiah Rono, flanked by Environment Chief Officer Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi and Energy Chief Officer Eng. Naomi Nthambi.