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OVER 600 STUDENTS MOVED TO SOUTH EASTERN KENYA UNIVERSITY – WOTE CAMPUS

Over 600 Students moved to South Eastern Kenya University – Wote Campus

The first batch of Government- sponsored students were on Thursday officially welcomed to the South Eastern Kenya University Wote campus.

The 650 second, third and fourth year students under the faculties of education, humanities and social sciences have been studying at the SEKU main campus at Kwa Vonza in Kitui County.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr who was the main guest at the event held at SEKU Wote campus, welcomed the students to the County and promised that the institution will be given more land for expansion.

He asked the students to utilise the Makueni Innovation Hub in Wote to enhance their careers.

The Governor praised local leaders who tirelessly fought for the establishment of the university and also cautioned students against drug abuse.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Douglas Shitanda assured members of the public that the campus will continue offering high-quality training.

Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu called for the upgrading of the Wote campus to a constituent college which will lead to a fully-fledged university in Makueni.

The Wote campus has been operational for the past 8 years and the uptake has been low as most students were self- sponsored.

Among those in attendance were Chairman of the University Council, Prof. Chrispus Kiamba, Makueni County Commissioner Henry Wafula, Makueni Assembly Majority Leader Kisungi wa Katete, businessman David Lloyd Masika and

Trade ECM Dr. Sonia Nzilani.

PS GENDER, GOVERNOR KILONZO DISCUSS PLANS FOR GBV COURT IN MAKUENI.

The Principal Secretary for the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, Ann Wang’ombe, Dr.Sam Thenya, Founder Nairobi Women’s Group paid a courtesy call to Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. at his Wote office on Wednesday.

During their meeting, they explored a potential collaboration with the judiciary to establish a specialized court at the Makueni Law Courts dedicated to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) cases.

Governor Kilonzo emphasized the importance of law enforcement in ensuring GBV laws are strictly upheld.

PS Wang’ombe is in Makueni to attend a gender sensitization forum aimed at promoting gender mainstreaming for a more equitable society.

The forum brings together the county’s CECs, Chief Officers, directors, the Gender Assembly Committee, Makueni High Court presiding judge, County Police Commander, and other key stakeholders in gender and child protection.

MAKUENI GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR. HAS EMPHASIZED TO THE SENATE FINANCE AND BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT COUNTIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING THEIR OWN FINANCE BILLS.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has emphasized to the Senate Finance and Budget Committee that counties are responsible for preparing their own Finance Bills, which must align with national economic policies without undermining them.

Speaking in Nairobi before the committee, chaired by Mandera Senator Ali Roba, Mutula cited Article 209 (5) of the Constitution, arguing that counties deserve their equitable share of revenue, as it is a constitutional right, not a favor from the national government.

He explained that under Article 203 (3), the equitable share for counties is based on the last audited accounts approved by the National Assembly, not on projected revenue.

The governor added that Article 203 (1)(I) ensures counties receive stable and predictable allocations, protecting them from revenue shortfalls.

Mutula also pointed out that Section 5 of the Division of Revenue Act, 2024, states that if actual revenue falls short, the national government absorbs the shortfall, and any surplus also accrues to it. Article 219 further mandates that county funds must be transferred without delay or deductions.

The governor expressed concern that the Commission on Revenue Allocation had not provided recommendations for the Finance Bill, 2024, and Parliament had yet to vote on it, as required under Article 205. He also noted that counties’ equitable share is excluded from the national government’s budget estimates, as per Article 221 (7), and is drawn from the Consolidated Fund.

Mutula concluded by stating that national economic policies should not negatively affect county allocations or their operations.

COUNTIES GATHER TO LEARN TELE-SURGERY FROM MAKUENI

Top health officials from Murang’a, Nakuru, and Mombasa counties on Wednesday gathered at the Council of Governors’ offices in Nairobi to learn from Makueni’s successful use of technology in the practice of surgery within the county hospitals.

As a pioneer in integrating Proximie technology, Makueni County has made strides in enhancing surgical procedures through the use of real-time video feeds.

This innovation has not only improved surgical outcomes, but has also facilitated the learning and mentorship of clinicians and medical interns within the county.

The meeting focused on counties coming together to create synergies, explore sustainable implementation strategies, and support the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals for the benefit of local communities. Digital health, as envisioned in the Digital Health Act 2023, will be optimally achieved once modern technology is embraced by all players.

Additionally, there was an emphasis on documenting these processes to share the impact across counties and with the Maarifa center within Council of Governors.

Shannon Shibata Germanos, Head of Proximie Global Health, emphasized that Proximie accelerates surgical training by allowing clinicians to observe procedures, learn new techniques, and exchange feedback from anywhere in the world and on any device.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. highlighted the successes achieved with the cutting-edge technology, stressing that a team-based approach, focused on evidence-based best practices, patient safety, and communication, has been crucial in strengthening surgical outcomes in Makueni.

Governor Kilonzo expressed his hope that modern technology would be adopted nationwide, championed by all 47 governors.

The effectiveness of this technology has already been recognized by Kenyatta National Hospital and the University of Nairobi, both of which have adopted practices learned from Makueni.

COG’s Director Khatra Ali acknowledged the potential of Proximie technology for county-based training, noting that it could help retain medics who might otherwise take study leave, creating gaps in staffing that counties struggle to fill due to budget constraints.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR HAS UNVEILED A TRANSFORMATIVE WATER HARVESTING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM IN KAKO WARD, DUBBED DRAIN TO GAIN (D2G).

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has unveiled a transformative water harvesting and management program in Kako Ward, dubbed Drain To Gain (D2G).

The program entails road run-off water harvesting for irrigation agriculture and environmental management by way of trenches linking roads and farms.

During a development tour of Kako/Waia Ward on Thursday, Governor Mutula also commissioned Kako-Kandulyu drift to ease transportation, and inaugurated Kako market day to promote trade.

He was accompanied by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, area MCA Dennis Musyoka and Assembly Majority Leader Kisungi Katete.

MAKUENI, TSAVO TRUST AGREE TO A JOINT MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN MTITO ANDEI.

Residents in Mtito Andei area are looking at better days free from attacks by wild animals after the County Government of Makueni signed a working partnership with Tsavo Trust, a wildlife conservator, to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

The partnership signed by Mutula Kilonzo Jr and @Tsavo Trust Chief Executive Officer Richard Moller on Friday entails joint implementation of projects that keep animals away from human settlements.

Some of the targeted projects include installation of electric fence in sections bordering wildlife corridors, provision of water for both wildlife and residents, establishment of health facilities and community education and participation in environmental conservation.

Governor Mutula said the efforts are geared towards permanently addressing the perennial cases of wild animals especially elephants straying into people’s homes and farmlands causing crop destruction and at times death and body injuries.

Mutula expressed optimism that the conflict if well managed, can metamorphose into a key economic pillar through tourism development.

Also in attendance was Makueni County Assembly Deputy Speaker and Mtito-Andei MCA Francis Mulwa.

PROCUREMENT REGULATOR LAUDS MAKUENI COUNTY FOR COMPLIANCE

August 23, 2024

The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Board has hailed Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for Makueni County’s outstanding adherence to public procurement standards.

Chairman Jimmy Kahindi and his board members, who visited Governor Kilonzo at his office in Wote, praised Makueni County as one of the leading procurement entities in the Country.

Kahindi disclosed that the regulator has been conducting visits to various counties to assess public procurement compliance, with previous visits to Tana River, Mombasa, and Isiolo Counties.

He raised concerns about significant procurement malpractices in some Counties and warned that the board will implement strict measures to ensure full legal compliance.

Governor Kilonzo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering quality services to the people of Makueni.

The Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration recently acknowledged Makueni County for its exemplary leadership in public procurement compliance.

Finance County Executive Committee Member Damaris Kavoi, who was also present at the meeting, highlighted that in the 2023/24 Financial Year, the County Government had exceeded the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act’s requirement by allocating 40% of its annual procurement budget to local contractors, significantly surpassing the mandated 20%.

GOVERNOR MUTULA WELCOMES CHINESE DELEGATION TO BOOST GREEN ENERGY AND INVESTMENT IN MAKUENI.

August 22, 2024

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday hosted a high-level delegation from China, visiting to learn about the county’s initiatives in promoting green energy and explore potential areas for collaboration and investment.

The delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with Governor Mutula and his team, focusing on innovative solutions for climate change, advancing social equity, enhancing financial literacy, and promoting economic empowerment, particularly for the youth and women.

The delegation toured the solarization project at the Makueni County Referral Hospital (MCRH), a flagship initiative in the county’s renewable energy efforts.

Governor Mutula urged the Chinese investors to consider Makueni as a strategic location for investment, with particular emphasis on the agricultural sector, which holds significant potential for growth.

The Governor was accompanied by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and several County Executive Committee Members, including Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, Dr. Sonia Nzilani, Damaris Kavoi, Eng. John Kieti, Joyce Mutua and Dr. Paul Musila.

SENATE COMMITTEE LAUDS GOVERNOR MUTULA FOR LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND DIVERSITY IN COUNTY EMPLOYMENT.

August 16, 2024

The Senate’s National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration Committee has praised Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for his compliance with legal requirements in human resource management and his commitment to promoting equal employment opportunities in the county.

Governor Kilonzo Jr. reported that the county’s workforce consists of 61% female and 39% male employees, with 27% of the workforce under 35 years of age. This distribution demonstrates the county’s dedication to fostering diversity, inclusivity, and empowering the youth.

Hon. Mohammed Chute Said, the committee chair, praised the inclusion of young people into the county’s workforce as a key step toward securing the county’s future and fulfilling government employment legal mandates.

The committee also commended the County Government for its efforts to empower the youth through initiatives such as agri-preneurship, providing equal opportunities in online procurement, and offering vocational training programs.

Governor Kilonzo Jr. presented this information during his meeting with the Senate Committee on Friday. He was accompanied by the County Secretary Dr. Justin Kyambi, CECM Finance Damaris Kavoi, and County Public Service Board Chairperson Dr. Nicodemus Muteti.

MULILI STRESSES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AT COUNTY STEERING GROUP MEETING”

On Tuesday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili represented Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. at the County Steering Group meeting.

This legal advisory body oversees county initiatives, programs, and projects.

Mulili emphasized the need for community sensitization before project initiation and praised Welt Hunger Hilfe for their successful implementation of water and education infrastructure in the county. She highlighted the organization’s impactful work.

Alice Munyao, the County Drought Coordinator for the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in Makueni, supported Mulili’s view, noting that community involvement in the planning stages fosters ownership of projects.

The County Steering Group, which includes the county governors, the county commissioner (co-chairs), and the NDMA as the secretariat, provides leadership and coordination on collaborative issues.

Members also include representatives from county government departments, development partners, and NDMA.