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Environment

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.

SH 171M CLIMATE RESILIENCE INVESTMENTS LINED UP IN 13 WARDS

13 Wards in Makueni are poised to benefit from climate resilience investment projects geared towards mitigating climate change risks and shocks in ecologically vulnerable areas.

The projects funded by World Bank through Financing Locally-led Climate Action Programme under National Treasury are expected to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities to climate change threats such as droughts and flash floods.

On Tuesday (30th April, 2024), a delegation of technical teams from the National Treasury Projects Implementation Unit and County Climate Change unit visited Ilima and Mukaa Wards for public participation fora on the environmental, social and economic suitability of suggested projects. 

In Ilima Ward, a sand dam at Kyangati across Wautu River will be constructed. 250 households will benefit from this project. Besides accessing water for domestic use, the households will be supported to grow 5,000 avocado trees to increase their incomes.

In Mukaa Ward, Kwa Kakui earth dam at Maiani is set for expansion and the water treated for community use. 

Leading the field visits were Environment and Climate Change Chief Officer Geoffrey Ngovi and Makueni FLLoCA Coordinator Jackline Kamusa.

MAKUENI, NAIROBI RIVERS COMMISSION SCALE UP WATER PROTECTION EFFORTS

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday hosted the Nairobi Rivers Commission (NRC) led by chairperson Dr. Pamela Olet for a discussion on joint efforts to safeguard Nairobi river basin water resources against pollution.

Mulili affirmed the county government’s commitment to environmental sustainability while insisting on the importance of inter-county partnerships in tackling contamination of water sources especially through industrial effluents and untreated sewerage.

Makueni is among counties bearing the brunt of water contamination from the upstream of River Athi.