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RELIEF FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AS COUNTY GOVERNMENT EASES FINANCIAL BURDEN

Business owners in Makueni County can now pay for permits and licenses in installments, following the enactment of the 2024 Finance Act.

Finance Executive Damaris Kavoi announced the changes during a market outreach at Emali Bus Park on Wednesday, where she also revealed discounts for timely compliance. As part of the incentives, small and medium-sized enterprises will enjoy a 10% discount on their unified invoice bills, while large businesses will receive a 5% discount.

The outreach event also brought good news to tenants of Emali Bus Park and the modern market stalls. Their rent has been reduced, and have also been granted a 50% waiver on arrears accrued during the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These measures, effective from December 1, 2024, aim to ease financial strain on businesses and enhance revenue collection efficiency.

Kavoi, however, decried low compliance in property rates and unregistered plots, urging property owners to clear arrears and provide required data to improve service delivery.

The measures reflect Governor Mutula’s continued efforts to foster a conducive business environment while enhancing revenue mobilisation to fund critical services and development projects.

EU TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EXPORT SUPPLY HUB FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN MAKUENI COUNTY

The European Union, in partnership with two entities, Trademark Africa and Rootooba, and Makueni County Government hosted a stakeholder meeting on Thursday to plan for the creation of an export supply hub for fruits and vegetables in Makueni County.

The proposed export hub in Makueni is part of a nationwide initiative to establish three hubs.

It is intended to serve as a central facility for processing, packaging and exporting fresh produce from neighboring counties, including Kitui, Machakos, Taita Taveta and Kajiado.

Speaking during the consultative forum, Makueni’s Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development CECM Joyce Mutua noted that the hub will help local farmers by improving access to larger markets, offering better prices and boosting their income through increased export opportunities.

Mutua says the initiative aims at streamlining the agricultural supply chain by ensuring that the produce meets international market standards while facilitating efficient distribution to global markets.

Trademark Africa Director for Standards Dr. Andrew Edewa praised Makueni County for its collaboration in establishing the hub, emphasizing that the facility will be a transformative asset for local farmers.

The meeting brought together key stakeholders including representatives from KEPHIS, TradeMark Africa, Farmer Producer Company, JKUAT, Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, exporters and farmers to discuss challenges in current agricultural practices, ways to improve market compliance and explore collaboration opportunities.

The forum was also attended by Kajiado CECM for Trade and Investment, Leah Marias and Taita Taveta Chief officer for Trade, Nashon Nyali among other representatives.

MAKUENI COUNTY GOVERNMENT INITIATES TALKS WITH CHURCH LEADERS TO ESTABLISH A PILGRIMAGE CENTER.

The Tourism Directorate on Wednesday launched consultative meetings with church leaders in the county to lay the groundwork for the establishment of a pilgrimage center.

The meeting attended by representatives from various Christian denominations, including Africa Inland Church, Anglican Church of Kenya, African Brotherhood Church, Salvation Army and Catholic Church focused on creating a framework for the development of a dedicated space for worship and personal spiritual growth and was open to all denominations.

Leading the forum, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism Dr. Sonia Nzilani highlighted the importance of unity in faith emphasizing that once actualized, the center would serve as a touristic platform to bring Christians together for a shared purpose.

Attending the meeting, Bishop Joshua Mativo of the Africa Inland Church lauded the county government’s initiative appreciating the inclusion of the church in planning for an environment of worship and personal reflection.

Upon implementation, the pilgrimage center proposed at Nzaui Hill aims to boost local tourism and create economic opportunities for the community with improved infrastructure.

The meeting attended by Chief Officer Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani, Rev. Dominic Kasoo of ACK, Captain Patrick Mwangangi of Salvation Army and Reverend Canon Daniel Mutua of ABC marks the beginning of a masterplan series of forums that will help shape the development of the pilgrimage masterplan.

MAKUENI, FLONE UNVEIL ROADMAP FOR INCLUSIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE COUNTY

The County Government of Makueni, in collaboration with Flone Initiative has launched a comprehensive roadmap to establish safe, sustainable and inclusive public transport systems in the county.

The initiative follows a baseline survey conducted earlier this year, which identified significant challenges faced by vulnerable groups, including Persons With Disabilities and women, in accessing public transport.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., alongside Flone Initiative Executive Director Naomi Mwaura, signed the agreement on Wednesday. Governor Mutula pledged to fast-track short-term interventions to promote equitable and accessible transport solutions across the county.

MAKUENI COUNTY VILLAGE ADMINISTRATORS PROMOTED.

49 Village Administrators in Makueni County were on Tuesday given their letters of promotion at an event held at the Green Park, Wote.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. urged the administrators to rededicate their efforts in serving the people of Makueni County. He hailed the administrators for effectively representing his administration on the ground as they are constantly in touch with the people at the grassroots.

Governor Mutula advised the administrators to constantly upgrade their professional qualifications for career advancement.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili asked the administrators to strive to address issues affecting residents. She said the County is working to re-engineer operations at the Sub County level for effective service delivery.

Devolution CECM Nicholas Nzioka assured the team of his total support and asked then to work closely with other county units like Sand Authority to restore sanity in public sector.

MAKUENI ACHIEVES MILESTONE IN MATERNAL HEALTH, RECORDS ZERO PPH DEATHS SINCE 2022

Makueni, once among the top ten counties with the highest maternal death rates, has made strides in maternal healthcare. Since 2022, no maternal deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) have been reported in its public hospitals.

This achievement is attributed to innovative healthcare practices and the adoption of Heat-Stable Carbetocin, a World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended drug proven to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.

The county has also embraced calibrated drapes, a specialized tool that helps measure blood loss during childbirth.

These clear drapes, placed on delivery beds, enable accurate monitoring, allowing medical personnel to respond swiftly to abnormal bleeding.

On Tuesday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. flagged off 11,000 calibrated drapes for distribution to health facilities across the county, further bolstering this initiative.

The governor emphasized his commitment to ensuring that women in Makueni deliver safely and return home with healthy babies.

He hosted members of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, who visited the county to learn from its best practices in managing PPH.

The visiting delegation, mainly from Norway and Italy, is dedicated to mobilizing donor governments and strengthening collaborations to improve access to quality healthcare globally.

Makueni is among the first counties in Kenya to adopt a comprehensive approach to combating PPH, combining the use of Heat-Stable Carbetocin with calibrated drapes.

These efforts are part of the “Accelerating Measurable Progress and Leveraging Investments for Postpartum Hemorrhage Impact (AMPLI-PHHI)” program, a partnership between the county and Jhpiego. This initiative aims to drastically reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates associated with PPH.

MAKUENI COUNTY STRENGTHENS COLLABORATION WITH AIRD TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

Makueni, through the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has formalized its working partnership with Africa Initiative For Rural Development (AiRD) to enhance development co-creation.

The Non-Governmental Organization has been working in the county without any formal framework for collaboration with the county government, even though it has implemented highly transformative and impactful community projects and programs.

Some of the projects include drilling of a 50 cubic meters water borehole at Mutyambua and another in Kiima Kiu. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said the county government will inject funds for distribution to reach as many households as possible. Other projects include training of 785 young people on entrepreneurship; joint resource mobilization for socio-economic interventions; Research on emerging issues and possible interventions.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and AiRD Chief Executive Officer Fredrick Kasina signed the agreement in Wote, Tuesday, during a round table discussion to enhance the partnership.

MAKUENI HOSTS NATIONAL LAUNCH OF 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE

Makueni County is hosting the 2024 National Launch of 16 Days of campaign against Gender-Based Violence.

The global campaign, observed annually from November 25 to December 10, aims to raise awareness and oppose violence against women and children.

The event is graced by among others:Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Aurelia Rono, Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action Ann Wangombe, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Nairobi County MP Esther Passaris, Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo and County MP Rose Museo.

As the World begins marking 16 days of fight against all forms of Gender-Based Violence, Makueni County has made strides in this fight through:

1. Development of key policies namely; Makueni County Sexual and Gender Based Violence policy, Makueni County Gender Policy, Makueni County Children Policy, Makueni County Sexual harassment at Workplace Policy, Makueni County Social Protection Policy and Makueni County Disability Policy,

2. Established a Makueni Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at the Wote Level 5 hospital. The recovery center provides support to survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and their families through the provision of comprehensive free medical treatment and psychosocial support to survivors of physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse;

3. Established an emergency safe shelter in one of the health centres with a 14-bed capacity each (8 for women and 6 for men) for short term placement of most vulnerable survivors of GBV;

4. Signed a 5-year MOU with Gender Violence Recovery Centre of Nairobi Womens hospital- to ensure prevention, reporting and quick response to GBV in Makueni;

5. Signed a 3-year MOU with Equality Now-Africa-to promote response, prevention and management of all forms of GBV in Makueni;

6. Organized safe spaces forums and children conferences targeting children between the ages of 10-17 years where 7,280 out of which 4,049 girls and 3,231 boys were empowered;

7. Developed walking galleries and gallery cards with children voices to enhance awareness on child protection;

8. Developed a duty bearers booklet and a children booklet on child protection and the need for creation of safe spaces;

9. Organized roadshows in all the major markets across the county to sensitize and create awareness on GBV;

10. Established and trained community-based child protection committees across the county that comprise of sub county administrators, social development officers, OCS, ECDE coordinator, volunteer children officers and children coordinators.

GOVERNOR MUTULA FLAGS OFF COFFEE SEEDLINGS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO FARMERS IN MAKUENI COUNTY.

Makueni County has released 8,000 coffee seedlings to be distributed to farmers for planting this rainy season. Another 16,000 seedlings will be released to farmers from next week.

Flagging off the consignment to be distributed to co-operative societies in Kikima, Mbooni Sub -County, Kithangathini in Kaiti, Masokani and Kithumani in Makueni Sub County, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. urged more farmers to consider planting coffee as prices world were going up. Makueni is one of the 33 counties that produce coffee.

He said the County planned to support farmers by training them on all aspects of coffee production including milling to increase its coffee production by 2.5 metric tonnes in the next two years.

Governor Kilonzo also directed the Department of Agriculture to establish demonstration farms in areas where there are coffee factories to train farmers on modern ways of farming. Currently, there are 20,000 registered coffee farmers in the county.

He said the County was working closely with the National Cereals and Produce Board to ensure that coffee farmers are provided with subsidized fertilizer.

The event held at the County headquarters was attended by Deputy Governor, Lucy Mulili and Agriculture ECM, Joyce Mutua among others.

ENI DONATES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT WORTH K.SH 40 MILLION TO BOOST HEALTHCARE IN MAKUENI

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Friday received medical equipment worth K.sh 40 Million from ENI Kenya, a leading biofuels value chain investor in the country.

The equipment, handed over by ENI Kenya Managing Director Enrico Tavolini, includes a centrifuge and a fridge to support blood unit preservation at the Referral Hospital, neonatal equipment for the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, and nutritional supplements for pregnant women and babies, among other items.

Additionally, ENI has equipped the maternity wing at Kambi-Mawe Dispensary and is constructing an ablution block and a biodigester to enhance sanitation services at the facility.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Governor Mutula hailed the initiative, saying it would significantly improve healthcare services in the two facilities.

The partnership is expected to bolster healthcare delivery and align with Governor Mutula’s goal of providing quality and accessible medical services.