Gender

The Department of health in collaboration with the department of gender,children,youth,sports and social services and Cheshire Disability Services Kenya, on Friday conducted a facility assessment at Mbooni Sub County Hospital towards an establishment of a Gender-Based Violence Recovery Center.

The assessment, led by Health Services Gender-Based Violence Focal person Theresia Maweu, brought together the stakeholders to evaluate requirements for setting up the centre at Mbooni Sub County Hospital, including space, services and coordination mechanisms needed to effectively support victims and survivors of gender-based violence.

The deputy programme manager of Cheshire disability services Kenya Dr.George Shimanyula expressed their commitment to the collaboration emphasizing the importance of a coordinated approach in addressing Gender Based Violence,noting that the proposed centre will strengthen response systems and ensure victims and survivors receive timely and holistic support.

The assessment will also continue at all the sub county hospitals with the aim of decentralizing the GBVRC at makueni county referral hospital to increase accessibility to residents across the county.

Once operational, the centres are expected to benefit affected residents by improving access to integrated services such as medical care, psychosocial support and legal assistance.

This will reduce the burden of seeking help from multiple facilities and enhancing protection, dignity and recovery for victims and survivors across Makueni County.

Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, on Saturday led the Mwanyani community of Emali-Mulala Ward in a greening exercise at the Makueni County Child Rescue Centre.

The exercise was aimed at establishing a child-friendly, environmentally sustainable and conducive environment that supports the healing and well-being of children hosted at the centre.

A total of 300 seedlings comprising ornamental, indigenous and fruit trees were planted. The fruit trees will play a key role in improving nutrition for the children.

The centre, which only awaits gazettement, will serve as a street children rescue and rehabilitation facility.

The exercise was also championed by ChildFund, Dedicated Children Agency, and Eco Green Initiative.

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.

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has intensified efforts to operationalize the Makueni County Child Rescue Centre at Mwanyani, Emali Mulala Ward.

As part of the preparations, County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, on Tuesday received a donation of play and art therapy materials from the Emali Dedicated Children Agency to equip the centre ahead of opening its doors to its inaugural cohort of rescued children.

Once operational, the centre will provide a safe haven for vulnerable children, offering not only shelter but also psychosocial support, counselling, education, and life skills training. It will implement structured rehabilitation programs aimed at reintegrating street-connected children back into society.

The newly donated materials will support professional counsellors and caregivers in addressing trauma while promoting emotional expression and healing among the children.

Makueni County has once again been named the top-performing county in Gender and Disability Mainstreaming for 2025, cementing its reputation as a leader in inclusive and equitable development.

The award, received by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili during a gala dinner held on Thursday evening in Nairobi, recognises institutions that deliberately integrate gender equality and disability inclusion into planning, service delivery and decision-making processes to ensure no one is left behind.

In her keynote address, Mulili said the recognition reflects Makueni’s unwavering commitment to building a society where inclusion is not an afterthought but a foundation for sustainable development.

She noted that the county has prioritised deliberate interventions that empower women, youth and persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in economic, social and governance processes.

Gender and Disability Directorate Council Executive Director Dr Richard Nasong’o commended the Government of Kenya for making notable progress in policy development and legislation aimed at safeguarding the rights of women and persons with disabilities.

Also in attendance was the County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Youth, Children, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni.

Makueni county on Wednesday joined the world in marking the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, observed on December 3 each year with the aim of increasing awareness, understanding, and acceptance of people with disabilities.

The 2025 theme is “fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress”.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, who led the county celebrations in Wote town highlighted the steady progress under the leadership of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, to ensure PWDs are included in all areas of development. From sports to health, social protection, and economic empowerment, the county has continued to open new opportunities for meaningful participation.

Sporting programs such as para-volleyball and the growing amputee football initiative have created space for talent and teamwork, while ward-based budgets have enabled PWDs to directly benefit from local planning and resources.

At Makueni County Referral Hospital, sign language interpreters are now available to help PWDs communicate clearly and receive the care they need without difficulty. Plans are underway to extend these services to all sub-county hospitals.

Through Mutulacare, the county aims to support PWDs by paying their SHA/SHIF subscription premiums, ensuring they can access essential health services without financial strain.

Makueni County’s human rights champions have kicked off an intensified campaign against gender-based violence under the 2025 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

This year’s theme, “ *End Online Gender-Based Violence: A Safe Makueni for All* ”, highlights the rising cases of digital abuse, including cyberbullying, online harassment and exploitation.

The launch brought together County and National Government officials, civil society, youth groups, faith leaders and development partners, all committing to work collectively to make digital spaces safer, especially for women, children and young people.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Sebastian Kyoni, who flagged off the campaign in Wote on Friday, said the County is strengthening survivor support services, enhancing reporting pathways and expanding community awareness through the Gender Sector Working Group.

Over the next 16 days, the team will lead countywide engagements, including community dialogues, school and youth sessions, digital safety training and awareness activities in a bid to build a community where everyone lives free from harm and with full dignity.

Makueni County has reaffirmed its determination to eradicate extreme poverty, declaring that no resident will be left behind in the push toward Sustainable Development Goal 1.

Speaking at the official launch of Kenya’s National Ultra-Poor Graduation Strategy on Tuesday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili highlighted the county’s poverty rate of 39.7 percent and positioned the new national framework as a perfect fit with Makueni’s long-standing focus on inclusive growth, social protection, and economic empowerment.

Representing Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., Mulili announced that the county is already piloting the graduation programme with significant budgetary allocations, including dedicated support for persons with disabilities from the poorest households.

She further pledged county co-financing for targeted interventions aimed at strengthening local social safety nets and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the ultra-poor.

The event was also attended by PS state department for Social Protection and Senior Affairs Joseph Motari, Taita Taveta governor Andrew Mwandime and County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni.

Picture This!

By 2023, Catherine Kyalo and her husband, Kyalo Kaluma of Muumani in Kithungo/Kitundu Ward, were considered a peasant couple struggling to make ends meet.

In 2024, a national government program, the Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP), identified Catherine and other women, enrolling them in business development training and mentorship. Each member later received KES 30,000 to start an income-generating venture. Catherine chose irrigation farming, supported by a nearby spring whose water flows by gravity. She ventured into cabbage farming and made a profit of about KES 45,000.

Fast forward to 2025: Catherine is now one of the most successful irrigation farmers in the area. She is currently growing off-season green maize, which she hopes to sell before December 2025 for over KES 60,000.

The program, commonly referred to as the Ultra-Poor Graduation initiative, equips households in extreme poverty with the foundation they need to build lasting livelihoods. Through a package that includes business training, seed capital/cash transfers, and a strong Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) structure, the program enables participants to grow stable enterprises and achieve self-reliance.

So far, the program has reached 3,000 households in Mbooni and Kibwezi, graduating them from extreme poverty to stable income generation through village enterprises.

The County Government of Makueni, through the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services is now benchmarking on these successes as it prepares to roll out its own Ultra-Poor Graduation scheme.

The county initiative also includes Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF), which provides financial support to already graduated groups and individuals to further enhance sustainable income generation and financial inclusion under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s inclusive development agenda.

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Thursday led a women’s empowerment forum in Ivingoni Nzambani Ward, rallying women to take charge of their social and economic growth.

The meeting brought together women from across the ward for discussions on key topics such as healthcare, economic empowerment programs, and leadership participation. The initiative aimed to inspire women to take up active roles in politics, business, and community decision-making.

Mulili reaffirmed the County’s commitment to supporting women in achieving full empowerment and equitable representation in all spheres of leadership.

During the forum, County Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Coordinator Theresa Maweu sensitized participants on GBV prevention and urged communities to safeguard children from sexual and gender-based abuse, a message reinforced by Chief Officer for Gender, Nicholis Mutisya.

Mulili further called on the community to abandon harmful cultural practices such as gum cutting, which endanger children’s health.

She also encouraged women affected by fistula and other reproductive health complications to seek medical care at county health facilities without fear or stigma.