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Office of the Governor

SEKEB GOVERNORS PUSH FOR INCREASED COUNTY FUNDING.

On Thursday, the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc Summit held an Extraordinary meeting attended by commissioners from the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) on consultation of the fourth basis of revenue sharing.

During the meeting, the three governors Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni), Julius Malombe (Kitui), and Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) urged that county allocations be adjusted upwards. This will enable the devolved units ably address the myriad of challenges affecting wananchi.

“…The CRA must acknowledge that funds must follow functions, and that the revenue sharing formula must take into consideration the additional risks and pressure on the healthcare that the Bloc faces owing to accidents occurring along the transnational Nairobi-Mombasa Highway…”, read a press statement in part.

The governors resolved to lobby Members of the National Assembly and Senators from the SEKEB Bloc to for a unity of purpose to defend Devolution and champion the SEKEB position when the CRA revenue sharing formula is tabled in Parliament.

MAKUENI AND BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN MAKUENI COUNTY.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday hosted  a British High Commission delegation led by Daniel Wilcox, the Economic Counsellor at the High Commission, who paid him a courtesy call in Makueni 

The team discussed modalities of joint resource mobilization to promote innovative renewable energy technologies and the transition from grid-powered to solar-powered systems within Makueni County.

One of the identified areas of partnership is setting up a state-of-the-art County Energy Center in Kisingo Technical Training Institute to serve the county and country at large.

The UK PACT team, county officials for Energy & Environment visited Makueni County Referral Hospital to inspect ongoing installation of solar panels that will enable 100% reliance on solar power. This project which is jointly funded by the UK in collaboration with the county government will generate 200 kilowatts and is expected to save power costs for the hospital by Sh 7 million annually.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR ON MONDAY APPEARED BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE FOR COUNTY PUBLIC INVESTMENTS AND SPECIAL FUNDS.

Meeting with the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds on Issues Raised by the Auditor General Report on Financial Statements of Makueni County Emergency Fund, Youth, Persons with Disabilities and Table Banking, Groups Empowerment Fund and the Makueni Bursary Fund for the Financial years ending 30th June 2019/20,2020/2021and 2021/2022

  1. Emergency Fund
    The issue raised was Purchase of a Generator by the Executive for Wote Water and sewerage Company (WOWASCO) in the financial year 2021/2022.

The intervention was done during the second wave of Covid 19 and just before the Devolution Conference.

  1. Bursary Fund
    The issues raised here were mainly on lack of proper legislation and unclear guidelines on bursaries and Scholarships in the years under consideration

The County is in the process of enacting the Bursaries and Scholarships Legislation which has been submitted to the County Assembly awaiting enactment.
The regulations have also been reviewed to give clear guideline on the criteria to be used in Bursaries and Scholarships issuance.

  1. The Makueni Empowerment Fund
    The fund had faced high default rate on the loan advanced, had a skewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Bank and operated under a manual system leading to questions whether it is a going concern.

There major interventions after exiting the skewed memorandum.
a) The partnership with World Food Programme has seen the reconstruction of the lending structural aspects of the fund through capacity building.
b) The Fund, in partnership with Safaricom, has set out to co-create a system aimed at digitizing the whole lending experience
c) The Fund through the Department has partnered with Village Enterprise to develop The Makueni County Ultra-Poor Graduation Policy.
d) Enactment of an Empowerment Fund Act
e) Unutilised funds have been put on an interest earning account

MAKUENI EARNS TOP HONOURS FOR EXCELLENCE IN INTERNAL GOVERNANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Makueni has been feted by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Kenya for achieving the highest standards in internal governance and risk management.

Makueni scooped position one in the County Government and Assembly category in the inaugural awards ceremony staged in Nairobi.

This recognition reflects the county’s commitment to upholding high standards and innovation in internal auditing practices.

The Auditor General, Ms Nancy Gathungu who was the keynote speaker noted that the awards were to recognize organizations and individuals that had achieved high standards in Internal Audit Governance, innovations in the adoption of Internal Auditing standards, the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), Risk Management Framework and high-performing audit teams.

Makueni County Executive Audit Committee chairperson, Felix Kyengo (CPA) received the award on behalf of the county.

SEKEB 3RD SUMMIT MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

On Thursday, the three Ukambani Governors Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Wavinya Ndeti and Julius Malombe held the 3rd summit meeting in Makueni where a number of strategies were drawn to improve quality of life for residents of the region.

Key highlights of the meeting include:

1. The three governors received SEKEB’s Economic Blueprint and Investment Plan from a consultant . The Bloc will initiate implementation of the First Phase of the Investment Plan within the next three years.

2. They called on the national government to address the massive pollution of River Athi, which poses a serious threat to the health of the Nation, particularly for the residents of the three SEKEB Counties. They urged for measures to force polluters to bear the responsibility by being compelled to pay reparations for the damages caused to our communities.

3. The three governors agreed to set up an abattoir in one of the counties with an area for value addition on hides, skins and other products through leather processing and other value additions. A joint Feeds’ Processing Zone will also be considered alongside agribusiness funding through the respective ministries of Trade.

4. To enhance the ease of doing business within the Bloc, the three county governments shall find a formula to harmonize and standardize county tariffs and licences.

5. The three counties have resolved to each invest in specialized health services in our main hospitals. Kitui will establish a Renal Centre, while Cancer and Trauma Centres will be built in Machakos and Makueni Counties, respectively. The Trauma Centre will help alleviate the suffering of the road accident victims along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.

6. To this effect, the Bloc is in the process of finalizing the development of its 10-year Vision Strategy which will guide in leveraging on economies of scale and concerted efforts to achieve sustainable development for the people.

WOTE MUNICIPALITY BOARD MEMBERS SWORN INTO OFFICE

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Tuesday Witnessed swearing-in of the Wote Municipality Board members after they were vetted and approved by the County Assembly.

Mutula has tasked the board to move with speed and implement the functions he signed off for transfer to the municipality to enhance service delivery.

Some of the priorities the board will be tasked to address include waste management, water provision, drainage and sewer system for Wote town, Solar lighting of the markets within the municipality, roads maintenance and upgrading of urban centres, especially Wote town to instill investor confidence.

The members sworn into office are:

1. Benjamin Masungwa

2. Everlyn Mulewa Kimuli

3. Romeo Ndeveni

4. Benjamin Wambua Mutua

5. Daniel Kisyang’a

6. Paul Maundu Mutua

A 7th member, Angela Kiamba,  who is out of the country will be sworn at a later date.