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OPEN UNIVERSITY MARKS SECOND GRADUATION, SENDS 200 INNOVATORS INTO KENYA’S DIGITAL FUTURE

The Open University of Kenya (OUK) marked yet another milestone, as it held it’s second graduation ceremony, proudly awarding certificates to over 200 graduates across various fields to the country’s rapidly evolving professional landscape.

The cohort completed programmes spanning Business and Economics, Education, Entrepreneurship, Economics and Statistics, Technology Education, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Digital Forensics, fields central to Kenya’s emerging knowledge economy.

During the ceremony, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba underscored the government’s continued focus on strengthening OUK as a centre of excellence in digital learning, and inclusive education for learners across the country.

Chancellor Dr. James Mwangi highlighted the university’s online learning model as a transformative avenue for Kenyans seeking to advance their skills while balancing work, family, or distance barriers.

Guest speaker Lucy Mulili celebrated the graduating class as a new force in technology-driven growth, research, and innovation.

Her call for increased enrollment from Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties was reinforced by Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi, who encouraged more learners from the region to seize the opportunities provided by OUK’s digital platform.

DRIVING MANGO EXCELLENCE: MAKUENI’S EXPORT PUSH

The County Government of Makueni is stepping up efforts to empower mango farmers and strengthen their access to export markets.

On Friday morning, a team of experts from KEPHIS and TradeMark Africa paid a courtesy call to CECM for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, Elizabeth Muli, to review ongoing support programs for farmers.

Led by KEPHIS Plant Health Inspector Dorcas Mugambi and TMA’s Programmes Manager on Market Systems Elizabeth Gathogo, the meeting discussed the ongoing countywide programme on identifying and managing pests of concern, and training farmers on export market requirements.

The one-week exercise is being conducted across several wards, bringing training closer to farmers organized in groups.

While speaking to the team, CECM Muli reaffirmed the county’s strong commitment to equipping farmers with continuous training and support, enabling them to produce high-quality mangoes that meet the standards of competitive export markets.

As part of the exercise, KEPHIS officers working alongside county agriculture staff visited selected farms to assess zones mapped as area of low-pest-prevalence for mango production for export market.

During these field visits, farmers benefit from direct pest surveillance, tailored advisory services, and hands-on demonstrations on pest identification and management to improve the health and quality of their orchards.

FORTIFIED FOODS FORUM PUTS PUBLIC HEALTH FIRST

Food fortification is the process of adding essential vitamins and minerals to everyday foods to improve health and prevent nutrition-related diseases.

With this in focus, fortifying food has emerged as one of the simplest and most effective ways to curb nutrition-related health risks.

On Friday, the Government of Makueni County in partnership with the Ministry of Health with support from the World Food Programme completed a three-day forum in Machakos to advance new strategies for public awareness on fortified foods.

The discussions that involved officers from Public Health and Agriculture departments focused on helping households, county government leadership and community stakeholders understand the value of consuming nutrient-enhanced foods, especially in preventing hidden hunger and boosting overall health.

During the forum, WFP also trained on sustainable approaches that Makueni can adopt to ensure long-term access and behaviour change on nutritious foods.

Additionally, the partnership aims to equip communities with knowledge that supports healthier, more resilient families.

MAKUENI COURTS ISRAELI AGENCIES ON POTENTIAL COLLABORATION AREAS

Makueni County is deepening efforts to secure strategic partnerships with the State of Israel.

On Thursday, Israel’s Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Gideon Behar, paid a courtesy call to Makueni, where he held discussions with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and senior county officials on areas of mutual interest -including water, agriculture, health, climate change, Education and energy.

Governor Mutula said the County is seeking to leverage Israel’s advanced technology and skills to bolster small-scale irrigation systems, a move he noted will help suppress the effects of climate change in the semi-arid region. Israel’s successful water-management and desert-agriculture models, he added, offer practical solutions that can be adapted to Makueni’s ecological realities.

The Governor emphasized that the envisioned partnership will prioritize capacity building and skills transfer, allowing local farmers, youth, and technical personnel to benefit from specialized training and exposure to modern practices.

Beyond water and irrigation, Makueni is also looking to collaborate with Israeli agencies in areas of food security, nutrition enhancement, smart agriculture, and knowledge transfer aimed at making agriculture more profitable and sustainable for local communities.

Ambassador Behar praised Makueni’s leadership, describing its development agenda as strategic and visionary, and reaffirmed Israel’s support for the county’s initiatives.

MAKUENI FEEDLOT SUCCESS DRAWS GLOBAL ATTENTION FROM URUGUAY EXPERTS

Deputy Governor Makueni-H.E Lucy Mulili on Wednesday led a high-level delegation from Uruguay’s National Institute of Agricultural Research, accompanied by national government officials, on a tour of the Sand River feedlot farm in Sultan Hamud, an expansive 200-acre model showcasing advanced feedlot and fodder production systems.

Uruguay, renowned globally for its expertise in livestock genetics, feed technologies, and pasture-based beef systems, is exploring opportunities for collaboration to enhance feedlot performance, strengthen expert training, and establish demonstration sites in Kenya.

Makueni is currently implementing an animal feed strategy aimed at ensuring farmers have access to consistent, affordable, and high-quality feeds that support improved livestock growth and value chain.

During the visit, Uruguay’s Director for the Animal Health Platform commended Makueni for implementing effective policies that have fostered serious beef production.

Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli noted that the county has already invested in pasture development across Malili, Kibwezi West, Kathonzweni, Kilome, and parts of Kibwezi East, while also expanding disease surveillance and supporting farmers through subsidized livestock insurance.

NDUKUMA DAM BRINGS RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO MUVAU/KIKUMINI RESIDENTS

Residents of Mumbuni, Kwa Kathoka, Kaseve, Kwa Mulele and Senda in Muvau Ward are experiencing a new era of reliable water access thanks to the rehabilitated Ndukuma Dam, which was desilted in 2022/2023 by the Makueni County Dam Construction Unit with support from the National Youth Service (NYS).

For years, households in the area relied on unpredictable and often unsafe water sources. Today, the restored dam has eased the burden of fetching water, with many families reporting shorter distances, steady supply, and improved hygiene.

Beyond water for domestic use, the dam has also become a source of nutritional well-being for the community. To boost local food security, 5,000 fingerlings were stocked in the reservoir, opening opportunities for small-scale fishing that now supplements household diets and supports livelihoods.

Looking ahead, the county government is preparing to rehabilitate the existing water distribution network to serve 16 water points, a move expected to expand coverage and reach more residents across the ward.

#WauniWaKwikaNesaNaUlungalu

#LastMileWaterConnectivity

HOW DATA IS POWERING MAKUENI’S DEVELOPMENT VISION

Did you know that data can define the development path of a community? And did you also know that Makueni has been quietly steering its decisions using a robust, people-driven data system that begins at the cluster level, a model widely celebrated as participatory budgeting?

Annually, the Department of Finance has deployed teams to clusters across the county to collect data directly from the public and county staff working at the grassroots. These sessions capture real community priorities, challenges, and insights that ultimately shape key development blue prints including the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).

In partnership with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the county compiles and analyzes this data before subjecting it to validation by data producers from county departments and semi-autonomous government agencies. The validated findings are then refined into the County Statistical Abstract, an official publication launched annually as the county’s authoritative data resource.

This data is instrumental in tracking progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), monitoring county performance, and informing the next phase of development planning. It provides a clear picture of what is working, what needs improvement, and where resources should be directed.

According to Acting Director in charge of Socio-Economic Planning, Stanlaus Matheka, the Statistical Abstract also supports the domestication of national data from KNBS.

In 2024, Makueni was recognized as the best-performing devolved unit in implementing the SDGs, a prestigious title the county has held for six consecutive years.

As the conversation around development deepens, next week,we will explore what sustainable Development Goals really mean for communities and why every resident should care about them.

Before then,tell us, how many SDGs do you know and which ones matter to you?

MAKUENI TARGETS STRONGER MANGO MARKETS AHEAD OF 2025 PEAK SEASON

With Kenya producing about 650,000 metric tonnes of mangoes annually, Makueni continues to stand out with an estimated 183,891 metric tonnes harvested in the 2024 season—affirming its position as one of the country’s leading mango hubs.

To strengthen this key sector, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development partnered with Trademark Africa (TMA)—an EU-funded agency that supports fair trade and improved market access—and convened a two-day forum bringing together farmers, marketing agents and exporters.

The meeting aimed to streamline fair pricing across all levels of the mango value chain, link farmers with credible buyers, and organise producers by region to ease bulk collection and improve market coordination.

Speaking during the Thursday session, Agriculture CECM Liz Muli urged farmers to follow proper mango handling practices, noting that good post-harvest care is essential for meeting export standards.

With improved mango handling, stronger market linkages and fair pricing structures, farmers will be positioned to reap meaningful benefits from their orchards.

The Makueni’s sweet mango output includes 30.9 million kgs for farm consumption, 76.4 million kgs for urban markets, and 5.5 million kgs for export, reflecting its growing economic potential.

The attendance Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyallo underscored the county’s commitment—driven by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr‘s vision—to advancing economic empowerment and improving household incomes across Makueni.

ATHI–TUNGUNI WATER PROJECT ENDS YEARS OF THIRST IN KIBWEZI WEST

The completion of Athi–Tunguni–Kilema water project has brought long-awaited relief to thousands of households across Kikumbulyu North, Makindu and Nguumo wards, ending years of reliance on raw, untreated water from River Athi.

For decades, families walked long distances to fetch unsafe water, exposing themselves to waterborne diseases and the daily burden of hauling heavy containers. The water is now pumped from the river, treated and distributed through a 27-km pipeline.

For Eunice of Mukononi village, the project is nothing short of life changing. She recalls drawing water from a shallow well dug at the base of Mukononi River, an exposed pit whose high sandy walls could collapse at any moment. That was her everyday reality. Today, she says devolution has finally made meaning to her and fellow residents, as clean water now flows safely to their community.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr says the project will be expanded to cover a total of five wards.

UYI DAM: THE EPITOME OF CHANGE IN MASONGALENI WARD.

The long-awaited filling of the UYII Dam to full capacity has officially marked a turning point for the people of Masongaleni. For years, residents endured the exhausting 10-kilometre journey to River Athi, braving heat and hardship in search of water for their families.

Thanks to a collaborative rehabilitation initiative by the County Government and the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), clean and reliable water has finally been brought closer to the community.

For mothers and children—who carried the heavy burden of fetching water for generations—today is a dream fulfilled. The days of backbreaking treks and exposure to waterborne diseases are giving way to a future of dignity, safety, and hope.

This milestone brings lasting relief to Mukange, Kyumani, and several other water-scarce areas across Masongaleni Ward, offering a sustainable solution to one of the region’s most persistent challenges.