Lands

Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana today led campaigns to sensitize Makueni residents on the proposed charter for Wote Municipality.

Prof Kibwana said that under the new arrangement the municipality will be managed by a board headed by a municipal manager.

The governor said the board will comprise nine members whose appointment will be based on a number of laid down factors.

‘’The board shall exercise legislative authority by passing municipal by –laws that shall be approved by majority of the board members but with full public participation. It shall have powers over municipal assets and employ their staff in consultation with the municipal manager,’’Prof Kibwana said.

Prof Kibwana who spoke to members of the business community from Wote/Nziu,Kako/Waia,Ukia and Muvau/Kikumini wards during the event  said the municipality will help engage good governance and equity in distribution of resources.

He said the new arrangement will also be used to ensure social cohesion.

Prof Kibwana reported that  both transport,infrastructure,housing and urban development ministries have partnered with the World Bank and set aside funds to support 45 municipalities in Kenya,Makueni included.

‘’All the  county headquarters except for the  established cities of Nairobi and Mombasa are eligible to access this funding for the urban development grant and the urban institutional grant as long as the counties have met all the minimum conditions set out under the grant terms and conditions,”the governor said.

He further  said  that Sh 20 million will be disbursed in the first year,the same amount of money in the second year and Sh 10 more million in the third year for urban institutional grant.

He said under  the urban development grant,the first tranche of Sh 135 million shall be accessed based on the total population pegged at Sh 2,000 per person depending on population of an area.

‘’I therefore also implore upon you as stakeholders to consider and agree on the proposed charter, which will then be considered and approved by executive committee and forwarded to the county assembly for consideration and approval,”Prof Kibwana said.

Lands ECM Mr Joshua Wambua said that the municipality will provide efficient and accountable management of its affairs.

‘’It will as well verify whether public resources and authority are utilized or exercised as the case may be to its satisfaction’’ Mr Wambua said.

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana on Friday led local residents in celebrating this year’s madaraka day by commissioning the issuance of 50,000 freehold title deeds at Nunguni.

The two-week distribution exercise, facilitated by the county government, will be conducted across the county.

The event was also attended by County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed, Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, assembly speaker Douglas Mbilu, MPs Joshua Kimilu Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo as well as County Secretary Paul Wasanga.

Prof Kibwana said the lands department is undertaking several projects with a view to securing land tenure for a majority of the urban and rural populations:

Among these include: Survey for issuance of leasehold titles which has been extended to six markets spread out within all the Sub Counties.

The exercise involves the establishment of survey controls, picking and plotting of all property boundaries and preparation of survey plans from data collected for onwards processing with the Directorate of Land Surveys.

He said Support has also been extended to National Government Departments like the District Land Adjudication and Settlement Office through financing the remainder of activities towards resolution of arbitration board cases and hearings with a view to finalizing the adjudication areas for onwards gazettement and publication of registers.

The department has also facilitated the National Land Commission for the allocation of public land for public use as well as alienating land for public good.

Successful excisions have been done for Kevanda, Ngai Ndethya, Kiboko A, B and C and resolving long standing disputes for Mikululo, Mukaa Mbita among others.

Prof Kibwana said his administration is working on Makueni Big Four Agenda as captured in the County Integrated Development Plan (2018-2022), which include;

Reliable potable water for domestic use, Food security and agricultural commercialization. Youth, Women and persons with disability (PWD) economic empowerment and Institutional strengthening and capacity development.

The county commissioner assured Prof Kibwana of his support in combating illegal sand harvesting and insecurity.

“We will work together to deal with the illegal sand harvesting and insecurity,” said Mr Mohammed.