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MAKUENI MANGO FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM 15,000 FRUIT FLY TRAPS

Makueni mango farmers have received a major boost in the fight against fruit fly infestation after Trademark Africa, with support from the European Union, donated 15,000 fruit fly pheromone traps to the county.

The consignment was officially received on Friday by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, who noted that the intervention comes at the peak of mango production season and will help increase yields, reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ incomes.

The traps, which contain pheromones that attract fruit flies to a biopesticide killing chamber, offer an environmentally friendly solution.

Unlike excessive pesticide use, which is harmful to human health and the environment, the traps provide safe and sustainable control of the destructive pest.

Speaking during the handover, Mulili, accompanied by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli, appreciated the partnership with Trademark Africa in empowering farmers, creating jobs and driving Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s agenda of boosting agricultural productivity.

The event was also attended by Trademark Africa’s Program Manager for Business Competitiveness, Samuel Konzolo.

KITISE RESIDENTS SET TO BENEFIT FROM REVIVED ATHI-KITISE WATER PROJECT

Over 6,500 residents of Kitise Ward will now have access to safe, clean, and reliable water following the rehabilitation of the long-stalled Athi-Kitise Water Project, which had subjected the community to years of untold suffering.

The Department of Water injected KES 8.5 million into the project, facilitating the installation of a new intake sump, a solar-powered pumping system, and the replacement of a 3km pipeline to the treatment plant.

During an inspection tour on Thursday, Water Executive Committee Member Eng. John Kieti assured residents that the project would be completed soonest, ushering in a new dawn for households that have long relied on untreated water from River Athi.

MAKUENI FRUIT AUTHORITY WELCOMES NEW CEO

The Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority has received Joseph Kioko as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Kioko formerly Managing Director of Kenya Planters Co-operative Union Ltd (KPCU) takes over from Agnes Kitili, who has been serving in an acting capacity.

In driving the authority’s mission, the new CEO is expected to transform the livelihoods of fruit farmers across Makueni by ensuring stable mango prices and reducing post-harvest losses.

The Thursday onboarding was witnessed by Elizabeth Muli, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, who expressed confidence that the new CEO will strengthen the county’s fruit sector and boost farmers’ incomes.

The authority remains a key driver in positioning Makueni as a leader in fruit production and marketing, providing farmers with fair returns while securing the future of the county’s mango industry.

MAKUENI TO SHOWCASE CLIMATE-SMART INNOVATIONS.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr today met with a technical team to review preparations for the Timbuktoo Green Future Hackathon, where Makueni is one of five pilot counties selected to showcase climate-smart innovations. The October 2025 event, led by Konza Technopolis, UNDP, and partners, seeks to empower youth-driven solutions to climate change.

Launched in December 2024 by President William Ruto, the Timbuktoo GreenTech Hub aims to support 10,000 African startups over the next decade, focusing on renewable energy, climate adaptation, and waste management. Makueni has formed a multi-sectoral team to coordinate participation.

Governor Kilonzo said the initiative will position Makueni as a hub for green innovation, with plans to mobilize startups, identify climate challenges, and incubate winning solutions.

NZIU VTC IN FUNDRAISER TO PURCHASE DRIVING SCHOOL VEHICLES

Nziu Vocational Training Centre on Saturday hosted a major fundraising drive to purchase driving school vehicles, drawing strong support from Makueni County leaders and the local community. The event highlighted the centre’s rapid growth and its position as the institution with the highest number of trainees among the county’s 61 vocational centres.

CECM for ICT, Education & Internship Japheth Mang’oka urged parents to enroll more students, saying technical and vocational training offers a pathway to economic empowerment.

The centre is among 15 institutions selected under the KCB Foundation Sponsorship Programme, Cohort 1, a recognition that has boosted its reputation as a hub for hands-on skills training. The vehicles will ease access for learners, aligning with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s manifesto pledge to strengthen vocational training by investing in modern equipment

The event was attended by Chief Officer Irene Makau, County Attorney Stanley Nthiwa alongside area MCA Felix Mateso among others.

MAKUENI MOVES TO SAFER, SMARTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works and Energy, in partnership with Flone Initiative, has embarked on drafting a Public Transport Policy aimed at creating a safe, professional and inclusive industry for all.

On Friday, county technical officers drawn from various departments converged in Wote for a consultative forum to shape safe, accessible and well-structured strategies that will inform the policy document.

Speaking during the forum, County Executive Committee Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy, Eng. Peter Nyamai noted that the policy will help formalize the public transport system, encourage investment and align land use patterns with transport strategies.

He further highlighted that the policy will also promote social equity by prioritizing safe and accessible services for marginalized and vulnerable groups.

The initiative is supported by the German organization Heinrich Böll Stiftung through Flone Initiative, which advocates for safer and more inclusive transport systems.

This partnership marks a major step toward modernizing public transport in Makueni, ensuring it not only supports economic growth but also serves every member of the community with dignity and safety.

MAKUENI FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM SUBSIDIZED SUNFLOWER SEEDS

Farmers in Makueni County are set to benefit from 6 metric tonnes of sunflower seed under the Edible Oil Crops Promotion Project (EOCPP) subsidy programme.

In a capacity building forum held on Wednesday by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development (DALFCD) in collaboration with the Agriculture and Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), the Sub-County and Ward Agricultural Officers were sensitized on plans to scale up sunflower farming across the county.

Through the initiative, AFA has allocated 6 tonnes of Kenya Fedha sunflower seeds, sourced from the Kenya Seed Company ltd, to be distributed to farmers at a subsidized rate. Under the model, farmers will buy one kilogram of seed at Ksh. 385 and get an additional kilogram free.

The programme aims to boost edible oil crop value chains, increase farmer incomes and promote local production of cooking oil in line with the county’s agricultural transformation agenda.

WOTE MUNICIPALITY LEVERAGES KISUMU’S URBAN MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE FOR SMARTER GROWTH

A team from Wote Municipality, led by Chief Officer for Lands and Urban Planning, Jackson Daudi, and Municipality Manager, Evelyn Mutua, on Wednesday and Thursday embarked on a peer learning mission to Kisumu City with the aim of strengthening Wote’s urban management systems.

The delegation engaged Kisumu City leadership and technical teams on critical areas including modern methods of waste management and recycling, urban development control, revenue maximisation, environmental management, and modern sanitation systems. Kisumu’s innovative approaches in integrated waste handling, enforcement of urban planning regulations, and automation of revenue collection provided valuable insights that Wote seeks to replicate.

Wote intends to leverage these lessons to build a clean, orderly, and sustainable Municipality that offers high quality of life for residents while attracting investors through a well-regulated, environmentally friendly, and economically vibrant urban space.

GOVERNOR MUTULA INSPECTS MBOONI’S UPCOMING 150-BED HOSPITAL UNIT

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday visited the New Mbooni Family Hospital which is under construction to assess work progress. The state-of-the-art 150-bed facility is set to transform healthcare delivery in the region.

Located in Mbooni Sub-County, the hospital will feature specialized units including maternity, pediatrics, newborn care, gynecology, casualty, laboratory, pharmacy, and a fully equipped theatre.

Governor Mutula assured residents that the hospital will be completed before the end of the year.

He said the project aligns with his broader vision to provide quality and accessible healthcare for all Makueni residents, with several other health facilities also underway across the county.

GOVERNOR MUTULA INSPECTS KATHEKA KAI WATER PAN REHABILITATION

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Wednesday toured Kanthuni Sub-ward, Makueni, to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation of the Katheka Kai water pan, a key project set to transform water access in the area.

The 30,000m³ pan, now 95% complete, is a partnership between the County Government of Makueni and the Kenya Red Cross

Once fully operational, it will serve an estimated 3,000 residents and over 1,000 livestock, offering much-needed relief to the community.

The rehabilitation works have included extensive earthworks such as site and bush clearing, excavation of the pan, formation of a silt trap and the opening of 3,500 square meters of access roads to ensure communities can easily fetch water.

This intervention is part of the Kenya’s Drought Mitigation Programme, aimed at enhancing access to reliable water sources while building climate resilience for communities often affected by dry spells.

The governor noted that the project is a major step toward sustainable water security in Makueni, ensuring households and farmers can thrive even in the face of climate change.