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Environment

Makueni County Establishes Climate Change Stakeholders Coalition for Unified Adaptation Efforts

The Department of Lands, Urban Planning & Development, Environment, and Climate Change in Makueni has officially launched a Climate Change Stakeholders coalition with the aim of orchestrating concerted efforts in climate change adaptation.

This coalition unites various stakeholders, including government entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), Academia, and environmental advocates. Its primary objective is to facilitate collaboration among these entities and formulate a comprehensive strategy for coordinated climate change adaptation within the county.

The inaugural event took place on Tuesday in Wote, presided over by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili. It was graced by the presence of County Executive Committee Member Sonia Nzilani, Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza, and members of the Makueni Climate Change Fund Management Board.

COPPER, MANGANESE, IRON ORE DISCOVERED IN MAKUENI

A National Aerial Geological Survey has discovered deposits of Copper, Iron ore, Manganese and Graphite in Makueni County. 
 
Cabinet Secretary for Mining Salim Mvurya announced this discovery at Kyunyu village, Kathonzweni, when he toured one of the sites said to harbour copper deposits on Wednesday 13th, September, 2023, in the company of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and sector technocrats from both levels of government. 
This discovery opens a wide range of opportunities for job creation for locals while putting Kenya on a firm pedestal for economic growth, and a diversification from dependence on agriculture as the key economic driver.
The CS has ordered geological experts from the ministry to conduct a ground truthing exercise to verify the mineralization patterns and commercial viability of the deposits for exploitation.
 
Mvurya and Governor Mutula also closed illegal mining activities by unscrupulous and unlicensed miners who had already moved in at the Kathonzweni copper-rich area. 
Governor Mutula cautioned residents against selling their land saying they stood to reap huge financial benefits through compensation when mining begins.
 
The team also toured Kathekani in Mtito Andei said to contain graphite deposits, and where artisan mining activities are being undertaken.

70,000M3 Kaiti sand dam targeting 1,200 rural and town households under construction

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr inspects kaiti sand dam at kwa kitungu, outskirts of Wote town where the County is engaging over 150 people daily in the construction works.
Once complete, the sand dam which has a
Capacity of 70,000 cubic meters, 3metres high and 85 metres long is expected to serve a rural capacity of 1200 Households and also Wote town residents.

The sprawling Wote landfill rehabilitation into proper dumpsite ongoing.

The process of rehabilitating the existing Wote landfill into a proper dumpsite is at tail stages with all efforts put in place to ensure the site’s waste is disposed in an environmentally friendly manner.
Some of the works underway include: garbage control, controlling water erosion through the dump, levelling of the site, fencing of the land to avoid encroachment and beautification through tree planting.
H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Thursday evening paid a visit to the ever smoking Wote landfill to assess the remediation exercise that will also mitigate possible contamination from the site into Kaiti River.
 
 

Governor Mutula hosts President Ruto, roots for water and road infrastructure

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday hosted President William Samoei Ruto at the Konza Technopolis in Kilome sub county during the award of charter to Open University of Kenya.
Open Univeristy of Kenya will offer virtual learning in Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, Bachelor of Science in Data Science, Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics among other courses.
The president accompanied by the governor among other senior government officials toured the Konza data centre and a water reclamation facility at the technopolis.
In his remarks, the governor petitioned the president to tarmac Emali-Ukia road saying the road will connect the lower Eastern to the Northern Frontier Counties.
Mutula Junior said the Namanga-Kajiado-Emali-Ukia-Garissa road is the only economic corridor in the region and would spur growth in Kajiado, Makueni,Machakos and Garissa counties.
He also called for the extension of the national fibre optic cable from the county commissioner’s office headquarters to other offices.
The governor also sought intervention of the president in the extension of the new proposed Nolturesh water line from Kajiado county through Konza to other parts of Makueni for the benefit of residents.

Partnership rekindles hope for locals

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and Eni Kenya Managing Director Enrico Tavolin on Thursday Commissioned Kwa Kathoka Community water project done as Corporate Social Responsibility by the energy company.
The project came as a result of a request by Governor Mutula to the energy company as part of his wide network of partnerships to support the Universal water agenda he committed to the people of Makueni.
The project will serve Kambi Mawe Primary School, Kambi Mawe Health Centre and Kwa-Kathoka Community

Governor Mutula calls for greater participation of youth in entrepreneurship

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Monday graced the Makueni youth dialogue and mentorship event that brought together 15 youths per ward from all over the county.
 
 
The governor used the forum to urge for youth participation in economic affairs through entrepreneurship.
He said the government was keen in creating a conducive environment that will unlock the potential for the County’s youth, to enable them to fully participate in development.
The County had also engaged different sector leads and youths who have excelled in various business ventures to speak during the forum.
 
 
 

PHYTODEPURATION FOR WOTE LEVEL V HOSPITAL LAGOONS.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change has commenced a Phytodepuration process, also known as natural treatment technique for the County Referral Hospital waste water lagoons, located near Shimo estate, Wote town.
 
This treatment involves planting of bamboo along the lagoons’ downward flow stream to act as a bio-filter of remnant toxins before the water is released to the nearby community for tree seedlings propagation and arrow roots cultivation.
 
The exercise, spearheaded by Environment and Climate Change Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza aims at ensuring 100 percent purification of the waste water through environmentally friendly mechanisms.

Commemorating World Environment Day

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Monday led Makueni residents in marking the World Environment Day at Lukenya College Emali, with a call to invest in plastic waste recycling to curb plastic pollution.
Mulili said the County Government of Makueni in collaboration with NEMA has made efforts to enforce the ban on supply and use of Single Use plastic bags.
Through the department of Lands, Urban Planning and Environment, the county government has also upscaled environmental awareness on plastic pollution solutions and enhancing environmental sanitation in all the towns and Market’s, Mulili said.
 
 
 

Uganda Benchmarks in Makueni

Uganda’s LDC-Led LIFE-AR initiative tasked with developing effective and long-term climate adaption interventions and delivering climate finance to local actors on Wednesday paid a courtesy call to H.E Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili during a benchmarking tour of the County.
The team led by Joseph Epitu, commissioner-water, and the Environment sector was taken through some of the interventions made by the county.
The county has set aside 2% of its development budget for climate financing as per the Makueni County Climate Change Act, 2022, and passed climate regulation, 2018, hence strengthening County Climate Change Fund (CCCF). Currently, the county is preparing to conduct a participatory Climate Risk Assessment (PCRA) so as to understand local climate risks and actions to build community resilience.
During their 2-day program, the delegates will have a field visit led by Dr. Sonia Nzilani, CECM, Land, Urban Planning & Development, Environment, and Climate Change to see how the county, partners have taken action in remediating climate change.