Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. commissions the Mutulani Family Care Unit, a new maternity wing in Mutulani Dispensary in Kaiti Sub-County .The facility was built and equipped by the M-Pesa Foundation in partnership with the Government of Makueni county. He is flagged by Paul Kasimu, the project champion.
Makueni County has stepped up its fight against HIV and TB after CIHEB Kenya handed over a program vehicle to the Department of Health Services. The vehicle will strengthen outreach and boost service delivery as health programs shift to county-led, financed, and fully owned systems.
Chief Officer for Health, human resources management and administration Dr. Harvey Mulei Mbithi, received the vehicle under the Uzinduzi Project.
The handover comes at a critical moment as Kenya adjusts to changes in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding, safeguarding continued access to quality HIV care for communities.
The CIHEB team was led by Dr. Peter Kyalo, the program director PACT Imara project.
Makueni County’s maternal health model has been commended as a leading example in reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths at the International Maternal and Newborn Conference in Nairobi.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. , who delivered a keynote speech during the conference, said the county’s progress is driven by deliberate policies, strong political commitment, and community-based interventions focused on maternity and family units.
He highlighted the county’s emphasis on male involvement and strong family support systems as key to improving maternal health outcomes.
The governor noted that postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains a major cause of maternal deaths in many regions, largely due to gaps in access to quality care. “Each death is a family permanently altered. This is not just a health issue—it is a leadership failure,” he said.
He called for practical reforms, including wider access to essential medicines, clear public health communication, and targeted action on key risk factors such as anaemia, poor nutrition, and pregnancy-related hypertension.
Makueni County was recognised for achieving zero deaths from PPH in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating the impact of its focused interventions.
The county is now expanding efforts to address other causes of maternal mortality, including hypertensive disorders, while strengthening antenatal and postnatal care services.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services Joyce Mutua on Wednesday led a supervision mission to Makindu Sub-County Hospital, aimed at assessing operational challenges and reaffirming the department’s commitment to enhancing service delivery.
Makindu Sub-County Hospital serves patients from across the region, including neighbouring counties of Machakos, Kitui, and Taita Taveta. The facility is particularly known for handling a high number of accident-related fracture cases, making it a critical referral centre for trauma care.
In a major boost to healthcare services, the hospital is set to introduce dialysis services, a development that will ease the burden on patients who previously had to seek the service in Wote or at Kenyatta National Hospital.
The CECM, accompanied by Chief Officers Dr. Harvey Mulei (Human Resource) and Irene Makau (Health Services), commended the hospital staff for their dedication and tireless efforts in ensuring patients receive quality care despite few existing challenges.
She reaffirmed the county’s commitment to strengthening the facility to meet the growing demand for specialized and efficient healthcare services.
The Department of Health Services on Friday joined mortuary professionals in commemorating Morticians Recognition Day at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, in an event that celebrated the often unseen yet critical role morticians play within the healthcare system.
Held under the theme “Honouring the Departed, Healing the Living,” the event recognized the dedication of morticians in preserving the dignity of the deceased while providing essential support to families during moments of grief.
Speaking on behalf of County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services Joyce Mutua, CECM for Lands, Urban Planning and Development, Environment and Climate Change Dr. Paul Musila said the county government has taken deliberate steps to improve the welfare of mortuary staff.
He noted that the county has transitioned morticians who were previously serving on contract terms to permanent and pensionable employment, a move aimed at enhancing job security and motivation among the professionals.
Further, he highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen mortuary services across the county, including the construction of a new mortuary facility with a capacity of about 100 bodies, as well as equipping health facilities to improve service delivery.
National Chairperson of the Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya, Elkanah Mwinami, emphasized the commitment of mortuary professionals to uphold respect and dignity in handling the deceased.
He said morticians play a vital role not only in preserving the dignity of the departed but also in offering comfort and reassurance to bereaved families during their most difficult moments.
The Department of Health Services on Thursday joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Kidney Day 2026 at Green Park in Wote.
The event, themed “Kidney Health for All: Caring for People, Protecting the Environment,” was led by a team of medical professionals from the Makueni County Referral Hospital.
During the event, the team conducted free kidney screenings and delivered health talks aimed at raising awareness about kidney health and the importance of early detection.
Speaking at the event, the nurse in charge of the MCRH Renal Department, Christine Andrew, encouraged residents to adopt simple but effective practices to protect their kidneys and prevent complications.
Makueni First Lady Anita Mutula on Thursday donated medical equipment to help operationalize the newly constructed emergency and family block at Mbooni Sub County Hospital.
Through the Anita Mbinya Foundation, Anita delivered 50 fully dressed hospital beds, 50 bedside cabinets, 25 baby cots and hospital curtains to prepare the facility ahead of its commissioning. The First Lady said the donation will strengthen healthcare services as the hospital awaits full equipping before opening to the public.
During the visit, she checked on a free eye screening camp at the hospital organized by her foundation in partnership with the Makueni County Government, Klear Eye Africa and the Kenya Society for the Blind.
Medical teams at the camp served hundreds of residents through eye examinations and distribution of prescription glasses. Doctors have also performed at least 80 cataract surgeries.
Organizers aim to conduct 150 cataract surgeries before the camp concludes on Friday. The outreach also offers blood pressure and blood sugar screening.
Joyce Mutua, Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Health, thanked the foundation and its partners for supporting the initiative.
Mutua said the county government plans to establish an eye unit at Mbooni Sub County Hospital to expand access to specialized eye care. She added that the county is equipping the new hospital block, including completing electrification works and allocating funds in the county budget.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has announced that Makueni County will roll out a new system to monitor the administration of medicine in public health facilities, in a move aimed at sealing corruption loopholes and enhancing transparency in the health sector.
The governor said the system, which will track the distribution and use of drugs across county facilities, is designed to weed out theft and misuse of medical supplies.
On healthcare infrastructure, he outlined ongoing investments, including the construction of a Sh34 million hospital in Kambu and a Sh70 million facility in Kibwezi, with another project in Kinyambu in the pipeline. He said the county’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program is intended to ease the financial burden of healthcare, which continues to disproportionately affect low-income households.
The governor spoke in Nzayo, Ivingoni/Nzambani Ward, during the burial of Onesmus Kyalo Maitha, who was eulogized as a hardworking and community-conscious individual. Governor Mutula also pledged support for the education of the late Kyalo’s children.
Late Kyalo lost his life through a tragic accident.
Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has urged Parliament to urgently resolve long-standing National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) arrears owed to counties, warning that continued delays could cripple devolved health services.
Appearing before the Senate Committee on Investments and Special Funds chaired by William Kipkemoi Kisang, the Makueni governor said counties were struggling with unpaid claims for services already rendered, accusing the national government of dragging its feet in finding a payment solution.
“Without a solution, health systems at the county level risk collapse,” he said, calling on lawmakers to treat the matter with urgency.
Mutula noted that adequate financing remains critical to delivering on the health agenda, arguing that counties can significantly improve services if funding challenges are addressed.
He also raised concerns over the mandatory 35 percent wage bill cap, saying it undermines service delivery. While constructing hospitals is classified as development expenditure, hiring professional staff to run them is treated as recurrent spending, creating a policy contradiction that hampers effective healthcare provision.
The governor further called for the zero-rating of medical equipment to lower costs and support the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals.
During his presentation, Mutula outlined measures Makueni County is implementing to enhance healthcare access, including automation of health processes and rapid registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He said the county had set aside Sh90 million under its Universal Health Coverage programme to register approximately 11,000 indigent residents, with plans to scale up coverage to 200,000 people. The initiative, he added, is aimed at ensuring sustainability in healthcare financing, particularly for vulnerable populations with no alternative access to medical services.
Mutula also highlighted the use of Proximie technology to bridge gaps in specialised medical manpower, enabling remote support and expertise in local facilities.
Members of the committee commended the county for deploying technology in the health sector and for putting in place systems that promote accountability.
The Department of Health on Day 3 of the Makueni Universal Health Coverage (UHC) mass registration exercise extended services to Kanzokea, Ikasu, Kimundi and Kithuki centres, recording an impressive turnout of residents seeking enrollment.
The exercise, anchored under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), aims at ensuring all residents are covered under the national health insurance framework while benefiting from the County Government’s premium support program for low-income households.
Residents in Kitise/Kithuki and Kathonzweni wards lauded the initiative, terming it a major relief in reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Health Promotion Director David Kiuluku, who led the exercise in the two wards on Thursday, reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving universal access to quality and affordable healthcare as part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s development agenda.
The mass registration continues across all wards, targeting 200,000 residents.
