Gender

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.

GOVERNMENT OF MAKUENI STEPS UP SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

Addressing the pressing challenges posed by poverty and vulnerability, the government of Makueni has taken decisive action to support its most marginalized citizens.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili led a distribution effort on Wednesday, providing blankets, mattresses, and essential food items to elderly residents, persons living with disabilities, and other vulnerable individuals across the county.

The initiative, which unfolded in Masongaleni ward and reached residents from 15 local clusters, aims to offer warmth and comfort during the current chilly weather.

Mulili emphasized the administration’s commitment, under Governor Mutula Kilonzo’s leadership, to safeguarding and empowering vulnerable groups, ensuring they feel valued and supported within the community.

“This program is crucial in preventing our elderly population from falling below the poverty line,” Mulili stated, highlighting ongoing plans to extend similar assistance to other wards in the near future.

Peter Mumo, Executive Committee Member for Gender, urged Makueni residents to actively participate in public forums where developmental decisions are made. He emphasized the importance of community engagement in driving meaningful progress.

Echoing this sentiment,Member of County Assembly Brian Nzoka underscored the pivotal role of public participation in achieving impactful development outcomes. He emphasized that inclusive decision-making processes are key to addressing community needs effectively.

MAKUENI IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VILLAGE ENTERPRISE DRAFTS POLICY TO EMPOWER ULTRA-POOR RESIDENTS

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services through the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) has concluded public participation on the Ultra Poor Graduation Policy, aimed at mobilizing resources to support extremely poor residents in building sustainable livelihoods.

This comprehensive framework provides a range of interventions designed to help the ultra-poor transition from severe social and financial exclusion to self-sufficient socio-economic participation. The Ultra Poor Graduation Policy combines immediate support to meet participants’ urgent needs with long-term investments in life skills and technical training, asset transfers, enterprise development, savings, and future planning.

Supported by Village Enterprise, the overarching goal of this policy is to empower financially excluded individuals to gain the capacity for financial borrowing from the Makueni County Empowerment Fund and other financial institutions, ultimately fostering sustainable livelihoods for ultra-poor families.

GOVERNOR MUTULA IN PARTNERSHIP TALKS WITH HIVOS TO BOOST YOUTH ENTERPRISES.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday hosted a high powered delegation from Hivos to explore partnership opportunities in support of youth-led social enterprises by establishing an enabling environment for their growth.Through a program dubbed Youth-led Economic empowerment Action Program (Y-LEAP),  the partnership seeks to create economic and employment opportunities for 100,000 young people in digital and green economies between 2024 and 2028.The program is spearheaded by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services and that of Energy.

1,500 PUPILS IN MAKUENI BENEFIT FROM DIGNITY PACKS.

Atleast 1,500 school going children from 15 schools in Makueni have been assured of uninterrupted learnig after receiving dignity packs during the Menstrual Hygiene Day on Tuesday.

The dignity packs targeting mostly teenage girls are meant to ensure no child misses school because of a biological condition. Those in marginalized areas, opharns, Children with chronically ill parents and children with a traumatic past will be given priority.

County First Lady Anita Mutula presided over the event at Kiongwani Primary School. The program is spearheaded by the Department of Health Services in conjuction with that of Gender, Children, Youth and Social Services.

FIRST LADY ANITA MUTULA FLAGS OFF SOCIAL PROTECTION SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

County First Lady Makueni – Anita Mutula in partnership with the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services have flagged off social protection support for vulnerable groups in Makueni County.

The social support in form of wheelchairs, food items, blankets, mattresses and dignity packs for boys and girls is meant to cushion the elderly, people living with disabilities and opharned & vulnerable children against social and economic life shocks.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender Eng. Peter Mumo said the social protection program is geared towards ensuring a life of dignity and opportunity for all residents of Makueni. The department, he said, recognizes that social and economic vulnerabilities can prevent individuals and families from reaching their full potential.

Makueni has a population of 36,369 PWDs, 66,691 elderly persons, and over 65,000 OVC where only 23,716 are under cash transfer.