In pictures: Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. inspects the ongoing construction of the Makueni County Referral Hospital Mortuary. The facility is now 70% complete, with finishing works and equipping set to be undertaken as the project moves towards completion.
𝐖𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 -Makueni is set to get a major boost in vaccine storage and distribution with the construction of a regional cold store at the Makueni County Referral Hospital in Wote.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr inspected the facility, which has a storage capacity of 30 cubic metres and will be able to hold between four million and six million doses of vaccines.
The walk-in cold room is designed to maintain vaccines at the required temperature of between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, helping preserve their potency and ensure uninterrupted immunisation services across the county.
The facility will supply vaccines to the county’s six sub-counties and 285 immunising facilities, including public, private and faith-based health facilities.
Makueni is hosting the pioneer project, which will also be used as a training centre for biomedical engineers and other health personnel from across the country.
The initiative is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) With Makueni being among 16 counties benefiting from the initiative aimed at improving access to immunisation services.
Wote, 8th September 2026
The County Government of Makueni is set to strengthen vaccine storage and distribution following the establishment of a modern walk-in cold room at the Makueni County Referral Hospital (MCRH) County Store.
The facility will provide adequate storage for vaccines at the required 2–8°C or below, ensuring vaccines remain potent and available for immunisation services across the county. Once operational, the store will supply vaccines to Makueni’s six sub-counties including 285 immunising facilities; public, private and faith-based facilities.
Director of Nursing and Immunisation Dr. Anthony Mathulu, said the cold room will improve vaccine availability while reducing the cost and logistical challenges of transporting vaccines from the regional store in Nairobi. The facility will also strengthen the county’s ability to reach more children with life-saving immunisation services.
The project is supported by UNICEF, with the cold room supplied and manufactured by Haier and installation being undertaken by Crown, alongside biomedical engineers drawn from different parts of the country. Makueni County is among 16 counties benefiting from the initiative.
The investment marks an important step in Makueni’s efforts to build a reliable immunisation system and ensure no child misses essential vaccines because of storage or distribution challenges.
𝐖𝐎𝐓𝐄, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 5, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — Makueni County has stepped up efforts to strengthen animal health, agroecological practices and disease surveillance through a two-day One Health Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Workshop that brought together veterinary professionals and Animal Health Service Providers.
The training, organised by the County Veterinary Directorate in partnership with Inades Formation Kenya, was held under the theme “One Health in Practice: Strengthening Agroecological Systems and Animal Health for Sustainable Development.”
The workshop provided for a platform to Sub-County Veterinary Officers and private animal health practitioners to enhance their skills in disease detection, prevention and reporting, responsible antimicrobial use, animal welfare and agroecological approaches.
Opening the training on Thursday, Agriculture Chief Officer Julius Mwania reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and coordination among Veterinary, Public Health, Environment and Water departments.
Speaking on the second day of the training, Inades Formation Kenya Chief Executive Officer Joseph Munywoki asked encouraged participants to embrace a practical One Health approach, recognising the close link between healthy animals, healthy people and a healthy environment.
The training concluded on Friday with resolutions aimed at strengthening collaboration between public and private animal health practitioners and improving disease surveillance and sustainable livestock production across Makueni.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has concluded his development tour of Kitise-Kithuki Ward with a Meet-the-People Baraza in Kitise, providing residents with an opportunity to directly present their priorities and development needs.
The engagement underscored the Governor’s commitment to people-centred leadership, responsive governance, and inclusive development, as residents shared their concerns while the Governor and his team listened, assessed the needs on the ground, and discussed practical interventions.
Water and healthcare emerged as key priorities, with the Governor commissioning the rehabilitated Kitise Water Project and inspecting the ongoing construction of the Londokwe Dam, a flagship project expected to strengthen water access and support the socio-economic development of the area.
The Governor also announced plans for the construction of a modern market at Kitise, a move aimed at creating a better trading environment, supporting local businesses, and expanding economic opportunities for residents.
The tour reflects a development approach anchored on listening to citizens, identifying local priorities, investing in critical infrastructure, and delivering projects that improve livelihoods.
𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 -Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has announced plans to construct a new hospital block and staff quarters at Kithuki Health Centre in a major investment aimed at improving healthcare services and supporting 24-hour operations.
Kilonzo also directed the connection of water to the facility and ordered the provision of maternity and laboratory equipment, while pledging to ensure the Londokwe Dam project is completed before the onset of the rains.
He further announced 72 bicycles for Community Health Promoters to ease transport challenges and support their work.
The governor is touring Kitise-Kithuki Ward to meet residents, inspect ongoing projects and commission completed ones.
He is accompanied by County officials, county assembly clerk Kevin Mutuku, and several MCAs.
Makueni County has become the first county in Kenya to roll out Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) through its public health system, helping pregnant women access essential nutrients for healthier pregnancies and stronger babies. Through a partnership with the County Government and Vitamin Angels, this initiative is creating a model for better maternal nutrition that can be scaled across Kenya and beyond. 
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The President and Chief Executive Officer of Jhpiego, Dr Allyson Bear, has commended Makueni County for allocating 39 per cent of its budget to health services, saying the commitment demonstrates the county’s determination to keep healthcare accessible to its people.
Dr Bear spoke during a cocktail dinner at the Radisson Blu Arboretum in Nairobi, attended by health sector stakeholders, including Kenya’s Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Judith Awinja, officials from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and the US Embassy, among others.
The event was held to celebrate partnerships that have contributed to improved health outcomes, particularly in maternal and child health.
Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili expressed appreciation to Jhpiego for its longstanding partnership with the county, saying the organisation had helped introduce innovative solutions that have improved maternal and child health services.
One of the key interventions introduced through the partnership is heat-stable carbetocin, popularly known in Makueni as “Kausha”, which is used to help prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.
Through the AMPLI-PPH project, Makueni became one of the first counties to adopt new World Health Organization-recommended interventions for managing postpartum haemorrhage.
These included calibrated drapes for measuring blood loss and a rapid first-response treatment bundle.
The partnership has also transformed care for women living with obstetric fistula.
Together with Jhpiego, Makueni established a comprehensive fistula centre at the County Referral Hospital, which is now recognised as a model for routine fistula care in Kenya.
Beyond surgery, the programme provides counselling, rehabilitation, community integration and support aimed at restoring the dignity of women who have often suffered in silence for years.
In family planning, 55 per cent of mothers in Makueni leave health facilities with a family planning method within 48 hours of delivery, making the county a leading performer in Kenya on the indicator.
The county has also committed its own-source resources to sustain and scale up the innovations beyond the lifespan of donor-supported projects.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has been recognised as a champion of efforts to prevent and manage postpartum haemorrhage.
The Makueni County exhibition booth on Wednesday continued to attract visitors eager to learn about innovative solutions being implemented by the county to address healthcare challenges.
The visitors who are attending the Health Summit 2026 at Kenyatta International Conference Center, among them global health stakeholders, applauded Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for his commitment to championing effective innovations aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Among the innovations showcased was Proximie, a technology that enables specialists to provide remote support during surgical procedures through augmented reality and telemedicine.
Makueni pioneered the use of the technology in Africa, integrating Proximie’s augmented reality and telemedicine platform into public health facilities, including the Mother and Child Hospital.
The platform enables remote specialists to virtually “scrub in” during surgeries and support medical teams in real time.
The county’s adoption of the technology has since inspired other counties. Fourteen counties in Kenya have adopted Proximie and are currently implementing the technology in their health facilities.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of Jhpiego, Dr Allyson Bear, has commended Makueni County for allocating 39 per cent of its budget to health services, saying the commitment demonstrates the county’s determination to keep healthcare accessible to its people.
Dr Bear spoke during a cocktail dinner at the Radisson Blu Arboretum in Nairobi, attended by health sector stakeholders, including Kenya’s Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Judith Awinja, officials from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and the US Embassy, among others.
The event was held to celebrate partnerships that have contributed to improved health outcomes, particularly in maternal and child health.
Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili expressed appreciation to Jhpiego for its longstanding partnership with the county, saying the organisation had helped introduce innovative solutions that have improved maternal and child health services.
One of the key interventions introduced through the partnership is heat-stable carbetocin, popularly known in Makueni as “Kausha”, which is used to help prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.
Through the AMPLI-PPH project, Makueni became one of the first counties to adopt new World Health Organization-recommended interventions for managing postpartum haemorrhage.
These included calibrated drapes for measuring blood loss and a rapid first-response treatment bundle.
The partnership has also transformed care for women living with obstetric fistula.
Together with Jhpiego, Makueni established a comprehensive fistula centre at the County Referral Hospital, which is now recognised as a model for routine fistula care in Kenya.
Beyond surgery, the programme provides counselling, rehabilitation, community integration and support aimed at restoring the dignity of women who have often suffered in silence for years.
In family planning, 55 per cent of mothers in Makueni leave health facilities with a family planning method within 48 hours of delivery, making the county a leading performer in Kenya on the indicator.
The county has also committed its own-source resources to sustain and scale up the innovations beyond the lifespan of donor-supported projects.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has been recognised as a champion of efforts to prevent and manage postpartum haemorrhage.
