Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

Gender

MAKUENI SET TO ESTABLISH MOBILITY DEVICES FITTING CENTRE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOPE INTERNATIONAL

Makueni is set to establish a wheelchair and other mobility devices fitting and modification centre in Wote town to address the mobility challenges of People with Disabilities (PWDs).

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said Hope Mobility Kenya, which has a 5-year working partnership with the Government of Makueni County, will offer the technical support needed to establish this centre as well as train identified persons on wheelchair modification.

Hope Mobility founder Michael Panther who toured Makueni for issuance of 400 wheelchairs said this centre will be key in addressing the diverse disability needs. On many occasions, people with mobility challenges have been issued the wrong chairs in relation to their condition, thus endangering their health.

Governor Mutula says this centre will be enhanced to become a one-stop point for all disability issues ranging from vocational training, assessment, fitting and capacity building.

On Thursday, Makueni and Hope Mobility concluded a 3-day fitting and issuance of 400 wheelchairs.

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 COUNTY DISABILITY POLICY DEVELOPMENT

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services on Wednesday held a stakeholders’ engagement forum to review the draft Makueni County Disability Policy.

The forum, supported by Women Challenged to Challenge and the United Disabled Persons of Kenya, aimed to address the needs and concerns of people living with disabilities in the county.

Key discussions focused on inclusivity, the welfare of persons with disabilities, and the protection of their rights, in a bid to improve outcomes for the disabled community.

PS GENDER, GOVERNOR KILONZO DISCUSS PLANS FOR GBV COURT IN MAKUENI.

The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, Ann Wang’ombe, Dr.Sam Thenya, Founder Nairobi Women’s Group paid a courtesy call to Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. at his Wote office on Wednesday.

During their meeting, they explored a potential collaboration with the judiciary to establish a specialized court at the Makueni Law Courts dedicated to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) cases.

Governor Kilonzo emphasized the importance of law enforcement in ensuring GBV laws are strictly upheld.

PS Wang’ombe is in Makueni to attend a gender sensitization forum aimed at promoting gender mainstreaming for a more equitable society.

The forum brings together the county’s CECs, Chief Officers, directors, the Gender Assembly Committee, Makueni High Court presiding judge, County Police Commander, and other key stakeholders in gender and child protection.

MAKUENI DEPUTY GOVERNOR HANDS TOOLS OF TRADE TO 90 YOUNG PEOPLE.

Atleast 90 young people from across the county have been handed tools of trade by the County Government of Makueni to start their own businesses.

The 90 have undergone an intensive 8-week on-the-job training under the supervision of identified master craftsmen through a program dubbed UJUZI TEKE TEKE by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services.

The program, according to Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Peter Mumo, is geared towards bridging the capital gap in entrepreneurial development by young people.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili who graced the event held at the Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre, Wote, said the county government aims to create a critical mass of skilled man power who can steer the county economy through self-employment and provision of cheap skilled labour.

THE DEPARTMENT OF GENDER, CHILDREN, YOUTH, SPORTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES HAS CONCLUDED A HIGH-LEVEL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT FORUM ON ULTRA POOR GRADUATION (UPG) POLICY IN WOTE.

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has concluded a high level stakeholder engagement forum on Ultra Poor Graduation (UPG) Policy in Wote.

The policy which is steered by the department in partnership with Village Enterprise aims to create a framework for resource mobilization to help ultra poor residents build financial capacity and graduate to socio-economic resilience and self sufficiency.

Once graduated, the beneficiaries will be in a position to acquire financial capacity to access banking facilities either from mainstream banks or the Makueni County Empowerement Fund (MCEF).

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH SAFARICOM FOR DIGITIZATION OF TETHEKA FUND.

On Tuesday, Makueni County’s Executive Committee Member for Gender, Eng. Peter Mumo, along with his ICT counterpart, Elizabeth Muli, led a multi-sectoral team of officers and stakeholders in reviewing the status of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund’s (Tetheka) new digital system, developed in partnership with Safaricom.

This digital system aims to automate the entire process of Tetheka loans—from application and processing to lending and payment. The primary goals are to enhance inclusion, efficiency, transparency, recovery, and overall accountability.

Eng. Mumo said the system is poised to revolutionize affordable credit access for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, improving their financial empowerment.

The review meeting in Nairobi was also attended by representatives of the Makueni County Assembly Committee on Gender, and representatives from the World Food Programme, our key development partner in social empowerment.

OVER 1,500 MAKUENI STUDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM HEALTH PROJECT

Over 1,500 students from grades 6 to 8 in Kibwezi, Makueni, Kaiti, and Mbooni sub-counties will benefit from the Mainstreaming Gender in Adolescent Health and Nutrition Project by Nutrition International. Launched by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili at Watuka Primary School, the project aims to improve adolescent health and nutrition.

Mulili emphasized the project’s focus on providing accurate information on sexual and reproductive health to adolescents. The project covers nutrition, drug abuse, and gender-based violence, aiming for positive behavioral change.

Isaack Wachira, Makueni’s county coordinator for Nutrition International, highlighted the project’s efforts to support pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers with nutrition education and supplementation.

The event was also attended by Assistant County Commissioner for Kako Division Jackline Leah, nominated members of the county assembly Hon. Elizabeth Mutindi Kiio, Hon. Sarah Mbilo, Hon. Josephine Muasa, Majority Whip Hon. Joyce Kamene, Director of Gender Jane Makau, and Director of Youth Affairs Boniface Muting’a.

THE DEPARTMENT OF GENDER, CHILDREN, YOUTH, SPORTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES HAS INDUCTED 210 YOUNG PEOPLE ON SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has inducted 210 young people on successful entrepreneurship, aiming to enhance self employment.

The 210 aspiring entrepreneurs were taken through a 2-day peer-to-peer mentorship at Iviani farm, located in Kwa Kathoka, Highlighting the effectiveness of social networking.

Iviani farm is popularly known for embracing modern technologies in drying fruits for both domestic and export market, fish propagation and production as well as livestock feeds manufacturing.

County Executive Committee Member Eng. Peter Mumo said the county government is at the final stages of unveiling the Makueni County Empowerment Fund which will provide cheap loans for business growth.

Faith Mumo, Chief Executive Officer of Iviani Farm and BEFA FEEDS underscored the need for youth mentorship and networking as a way of attracting more participation in entrepreneurship.

HOPE FOR GENDER VIOLENCE SURVIVORS

Did you know that Makueni County boasts a dedicated Gender Violence Recovery Center within its County Referral Hospital?

Since its launch in 2019, this center has been a sanctuary for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, providing vital psychosocial support for those facing emotional, physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.

According to the facility’s Counseling Psychologist Dorah Abok, in June alone, the center handled 11 cases of defilement, one case of sodomy, two rape cases, one incident of physical gender-based violence, and four cases of intimate partner violence.Five of these cases involved incest.

Dorah highlighted some trends, noting that defilement cases spike during school holidays, while incidents of intimate partner violence surge over weekends and public holidays.

The Makueni Gender Violence Recovery Center not only offers comprehensive services but also fosters a healing environment to help survivors reintegrate into safe spaces. In a collaborative effort, the county has partnered with Nairobi Women’s Gender Violence Recovery Center to extend further support to survivors of SGBV.

For assistance, the Makueni GVRC hotline is available for calls, reverse calls, and texts at 0700346405. Reach out and reclaim your safety.