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Lands

BUILDING A WATER SECURE MAKUENI

In an endeavor to enhance water access to residents of Makueni, through the Last Mile Water Connectivity program, County Executive Member for Finance Damaris Kavoi on Monday launched Mulima dam phase 2 distribution works, on behalf of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

This project aims to enhance the pumping system of Mulima’s treated water to Syiluni hill and distribution through the existing pipeline to residents of Mbooni and Tulimani wards.

The launch was witnessed by CECs John Kieti (Water), Japheth Mang’oka (Lands), Nicholas Nzioka (Devolution) and area MCA Alexander Mulemba.

MAKUENI KICKS OFF CAMPAIGN TO GROW 1 MILLION TREES

The Department of Lands through the Directorate of Environment has launched a campaign to grow 1 million trees in the October-November-December rain season.

The exercise is part of a greater initiative by the County Government of Makueni to plant and grow 344M trees by the year 2032 to restore degraded landscapes and forests.

The exercise was launched by County Executive Committee Member Japheth Mang’oka flanked by Chief Officer Geoffrey Muthoka, representatives of Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Forest Research Institute and Community Forest Association at Kalumbi Forest in Mbitini Ward, Makueni Sub-county.

Acting Director Climate Change Jackline Kamusa says a greater percentage of the trees are fruit trees, to be given to farmers to ensure food resilience in the wake of climate change.

To weed out the menacing illegal felling of trees for charcoal and timber, Mang’oka said the county government has enlisted the support of Community Forest Associations for policing and intelligence sharing on the perpetrators of this environmental destruction.

MAKUENI INTENSIFIES LANDSCAPE RESTORATION OF DEGRADED LANDS

Makueni’s Department of Lands, in partnership with FAO and the European Union under the Digital Land Governance Programme, has completed a two-day capacity building workshop for Muambwani and Kalumbi Community Forests restoration stakeholders.

The training is geared towards equipping the stakeholders, among them the community, with necessary information for participatory forest management planning, build synergies among the different stakeholders and carry out monitoring and evaluation of the Muambwani-Kalumbi Community Forest restoration progress.

The training brought together community members, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and ICRAF representatives.

County Chief Officer in charge of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change Geoffrey Muthoka reiterated Makueni’s determination to restore degraded landscapes while encouraging the planting of high-value trees in both public and private farmlands.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR ON TUESDAY MORNING HOSTED A DELEGATION OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FROM NEPAL.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday morning hosted a delegation of government officials from Nepal for a peer-to-peer learning on Makueni’s Devolved Climate Financing. Makueni has implemented a robust community driven climate change resilience building strategy where the community identifies climate risks and resilience action plans.

900 community members who form the ward climate change planning committees act as ambassadors of climate change at the community level.

WIN FOR MAKUENI COUNTY IN MTITO ANDEI RATES CASE.

The Court of Appeal has stayed orders which had been issued by a Mombasa Court stopping makueni county from collecting revenue at Mtito Andei town.

The order by the Court of Appeal authorises Makueni County to collect revenue in Mtito Andei and quashes the earlier court order authorising Taita Taveta to collect revenue in Mtito Andei. It also suspends notices issued by Okiya Omtata and Taita Taveta County directing business owners at Mtito Andei to pay rates and permits to Taita Taveta County.

In an appeal, Makueni County argued that the orders from the mombasa court violated the constitution by requiring County government to open commercial account for collecting revenue instead of the County Revenue Fund.

This reprieve which has been welcomed by residents of Mtito Andei comes after National Land Commission had written to the Mombasa Court informing it that Mtito Andei is squarely within Makueni County.

3400 RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE TITLE DEEDS

August 26, 2024

Over 3,400 landowners in Kaunguni and Kinyoo settlement schemes in Kibwezi-West Sub-County will soon secure their title deeds set to be issued next month.

This milestone follows a consultative meeting held in Nairobi on Monday between Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and Ministry of Lands Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome .The discussions centered on the issuance of titles and other key land matters in Makueni County.

The county government is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Lands to expedite the adjudication process and the issuance of title deeds in all pending settlement schemes and sections such as Kai B, Kathekani B and Syumile among others.

It was also agreed that the erroneous land records for Malili and Aimi Ma Kilungu Ranches, currently housed in Machakos, be transferred to Makueni to ensure accuracy and accessibility.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Lands CECM Nicholas Nzioka and Chief Officer Jackson Daudi.

KeNHA AND MAKUENI COUNTY RAMPS UP ROAD SAFETY EFFORTS

In a bid to enhance road safety and curb illegal roadside activities, the State Department of Roads, through KeNHA held a consultative meeting with the County Government of Makueni at Kusyombunguo Hotel. The meeting prompted by the National Security Committee following the tragic Londiani accident on June 30, 2023 which claimed 52 lives focused on moderlities of addressing market encroachments onto road reserves and ensuring adherence to road safety regulations in Makueni County.

Led by KeNHA Lower Eastern Regional Director Eng. J. Kariuki and also attended by the County Commissioner, the meeting resolved to the formation of a multi-sectoral committee that will include representatives from the National and County Governments, KeNHA, KURA, business stakeholders, traders, and the public. The multi-Sectoral committee will strategize on public awareness and implementation of the national road safety directive that provides a remedy to increased road accidents along major roads. The solution involves clearing encroached road reserves, designating land for markets and addressing illegal roadside parking, dumping and trading activities.

The County Government was prominently represented by CECMs Eng. Sebastian Kyoni (Infrastructure), Dr. Sonia Nzilani (Trade), Eng. John Kieti (Water and Sanitation), and Mr. Nicholas Nzioka (Lands).

This collaborative exercise highlights KeNHA’s commitment to creating safe, orderly and business-friendly environment.

GOVERNOR MUTULA ISSUES 179 ALLOTMENT LETTERS TO KIKIMA PLOT OWNERS

Governor Mutula Kilozno Jr has issued letters of allotment to 179 plot owners of Kikima town, Mbooni Sub-county, in an endeavor to improve security of land tenure.

This is geared towards solving land ownership wrangles which have plagued the county for years, slowing down development.

The county government has prioritized resolution of all these disputes by collaborating with the National Ministry for Lands in planning and titling 157 parcels in Emali, 349 parcels in Kibwezi, and 410 parcels in Makindu. Allotment letters for 104 parcels in Nunguni town, Kaiti, are also ready for issuance.

According to the Lands Executive Committee Member Nicholas Nzioka, the county government is working closely with the National Land Commission to fast-track adjudication and issuance of title deeds in all pending settlement schemes and sections, namely Ngai, Mang’elete, Muthingiini, Ngaindethya, Kyamuoso, Kiboko A&C, Utithi, and Kathyaka.

The county government is also running land clinics where residents are helped to fill affidavits and prosecute estate succession for faster processing of title deeds.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH FAO TO ENHANCE DIGITAL LAND GOVERNANCE

Makueni’s Department of Lands has partnered with the European Union through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the Digital Land Governance Programme to improve land tenure security and enhance land administration effectiveness.

This partnership aims to upgrade the county’s Land Information Management System (LIMS) by auditing its performance, identifying gaps and opportunities, and incorporating emerging Information, Communication, and Technological advancements in digital land governance.

According to Lands and Urban Planning Chief Officer Jackson Daudi, technical optimization of the system will enable users to register, transfer, subdivide, process searches, and place caveats on plots virtually. This will reduce operational costs and increase transparency in land revenue management.

In the Financial Year 2023/2024, Makueni hit the Sh 1 billion mark in Own Source Revenue collection, with land-based revenue through LIMS being a major contributor.

NLC MOVES TO RESOLVE MAKUENI -TAVETA BOUNDARY ROW.

The National Land Commission (NLC) on Friday carried out a site inspection and public engagement forum at Mtito Andei town in Makueni County in a bid to resolve the Makueni -Taita Taveta boundary dispute.

NLC chairperson Mr. Gershom Otachi and a team of surveyors walked the residents of both counties through the exercise which involved identifying key areas of contention between the two parties.

The commission is expected to prepare and present a report of its findings and recommendations about the stalemate to the High Court of Kenya, which recently received and analysed materials and heard both written and oral submissions in the stalemate.

The bone of contention remains the town of Mtito Andei which Taita Taveta County claims to be part of her territory.

The residents of this town have on different occasions expressed their disdain towards these claims as they receive all their socio-economic and adminstrative services from Makueni County Government.

The team from NLC have upto end of July 2024 to present their recommendations to the court.