Departments

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN PRE-MADARAKA DAY FOOD SECURITY EXHIBITION

May 27, 2024

Makueni County is participating in the Pre-Madaraka Day Food Security Exhibition, which began today, 27th May, and will continue until 31st May, 2024, in Bungoma County. This exhibition precedes this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, themed “Agriculture and Food Security.”

The exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, aims to bring together key players in the sector to engage in in-depth discussions, analysis, and exhibitions of strategies and achievements in Kenya’s food security.

Agriculture PS Rono officially launched the exhibition. The theme for Day 1 is “Interventions to Enhance Access and Utilization of Agricultural Sector Inputs.”

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MAKUENI CELEBRATED FOR OUTSTANDING BUDGET TRANSPARENCY

May 24, 2024

Makueni County Government has been lauded for its budget transparency, securing the second position consecutively in the annual survey conducted by the International Budget Partnership Kenya for Financial Year 2022/23, with an impressive score of 80 per cent.

The survey assessed key budget documents such as County Budget and Review Paper, County Fiscal Strategy Paper, Citizens/Mwananchi Budgets, County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and the Annual Developent Plan. Makueni had the most comprehensive County Integrated Development Plan 2023-27.

Other documents assessed were Approved Programme Based Budgets,

Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports and the Finance Act.

Finance and Budget Executive Damaris Kavoi on Friday received the award on behalf of the county government at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.

She emphasized the importance of transparency for effective planning, accountability, and citizen engagement. This recognition bolsters the county’s credibility with donors and partners.

Kavoi was accompanied by Planning Chief Officer Mutua Boniface and staff from the department.

MAKUENI’S TRIUMPH OVER FISTULA

287 women and girls in Makueni are celebrating this year’s International Day to End Fistula with renewed energy and hope after successful corrective surgeries.

Mary Cosmus, who had endured this condition for 48 years, is one such woman. She was born with the condition and had endured a life of ridicule, neglect, and solitude, as no one wanted to associate with her.

The surgeries, conducted at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, are part of a joint campaign by the Makueni County Government and Jhpiego to end this preventable condition.

County First Lady Anita Mutula, who led Makueni residents in marking this day, reaffirmed her commitment to raise awareness about fistula and advocate for better reproductive, maternal, and child health to prevent incidences of fistula.

Acting County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Elizabeth Muli said 73 more cases are lined up for surgery while appreciating the tremendous support of partners towards this cause.

KATANGINI BOREHOLE PROJECT TO ENHANCE WATER ACCESS TO RESIDENTS

May 22, 2024

65 households from Katangini Location in Kalawa Ward will access water for household consumption and enhance agricultural production, once Katangani borehole project is completed.

The borehole with an estimated capacity of 25- cubic –meter of fresh water is a project of the county government through Small-scale Irrigation Value Addition Project (SIVAP) and will supply water for domestic use and irrigation.

On Wednesday, Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua inspected the progress of the borehole drilling to ensure its timely completion.

Mutua said that, through SIVAP, a total of 10 boreholes are scheduled to be drilled. Among these, 5 boreholes were drilled in 2023. These boreholes include Nduumoni in Nzakika, Ithanzeni in Ukia, Kimuumo in Muvau Kikumini, Ngai Ndethya in Mtito Andei, and Twaandu in Makindu.

In the next two months, another five boreholes will be drilled. These include Galilee, Katangini location in Kalawa ward (ongoing) Linga in Kako waia, Kanyonga in Mavindini, Utangwa in Kithungo Kitundu ward and Kalaanzoni borehole in Kalaanzoni ward.

The boreholes will be equipped with solar-powered pumping system. to distribute water to farms, kiosks, and livestock watering points. Mutua also inspected ongoing construction works for the Kanini Kaseo micro-irrigation project.

Mutua was accompanied by the Agriculture Chief Officer Dr. Victoria Kyallo and County Director for Agriculture Mary Muteti.

CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism Executive Committee Member Dr. Sonia Nzilani led the inaugural celebration of the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development in Wote.

The celebrations highlights the richness of the world’s cultures and role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.

Dr. Nzilani noted that the UN-Sanctioned observance day was an enabler and economic driver adding that the event envisaged to give impetus to the institutionalization of culture of observance of international days in the county.

She as well stressed the need to increase budget allocations on cultural activities, noting that the promotion of the respect for diversity and intercultural dialogue is important for the county whose urban centers are increasingly becoming cosmopolitan.

The activity saw the winners of the 96th edition of the Kenya music festivals as well as the cultural festival winners of the plug Mtaani awarded with certificates.

SUCCESSFUL SURGERIES BRING RELIEF TO WOMEN SUFFERING FROM FISTULA IN MAKUENI.

Successful Surgeries Bring Relief to Women Suffering from Fistula in Makueni

At least 11 women suffering from fistula-related complications breathed a sigh of relief following successful surgeries yesterday at the Mother and Child Hospital. Additional surgeries are planned for today.

Dr. Doris Mbithi, the fistula surgeon in Makueni, stated that the hospital has admitted 50 women awaiting surgery. So far, they have screened at least 148 women and are encouraging more to come forward for screening.

The county government has partnered with Jhpiego to address and reduce the prevalence of fistula among Makueni residents. The Department of Health is also offering free fistula screenings from May 17, 2024, to May 24, 2024.

Makueni is set to host the National and International Day of Ending Fistula on May 23, 2024.

LIVESTOCK INSURANCE PROJECT TO PROTECT MAKUENI FARMERS AGAINST DROUGHT RISKS

Farmers in Makueni are set to benefit from insurance project designed to cushion their livestock against drought risks, enhance financial inclusion, and better connect them to markets, says Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua.

The project allows farmers to insure upto 5 topical livestock units. To be eligible to benefit from financial bonus, farmers must insure at least three tropical livestock units, which is equivalent to three heads of cattle or 30 sheep or goats, at an approximate cost of Sh. 800 per unit. The project will pay 80% of the insurance premiums for the first year while the farmer pays 20 %. Such farmers will receive a one-time savings bonus of Sh. 6000.

The project, named De-Risking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement (DRIVE), is funded by the World Bank and global risk financing facility and will also focus on promoting key livestock value chains. These include fodder and livestock feed production, livestock trading, commercial off-takes and feed-lotting, livestock transport, extension services, and infrastructure development for value addition such as abotoirs, milk and ghee, tanneries among others.

Registration of animals to be insured will be done in July, paving the way for the project to start in Makueni in October 2024.

It will target five specific insurance units, validated by key stakeholders last week. These units are:

Athi zone: Covering Mtito-Andei, Masongaleni, Kikumbulyu North and South, parts of Makindu, Nguu-Masumba, and Emali-Mulala wards,

Thwake zone: Covering Kithuki-Kitise, Nzaui-Kilili-Kalamba, Muvau-Kikumini, Kathonzweni, Mavindini and Wote-Nziu wards,

Kalako area: Covering Kalawa and Kako-Waia wards,

Chyullu zone: Covering Ivingoni-Nzambani, Thange, Nguumo, and parts of Makindu wards, and

Konza zone: Covering lower Mbitini, lower Kasikeu, and Kiima-Kiu-Kalanzoni wards.

MAKUENI, KWS PARTNER TO END HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN KIBWEZI EAST

Makueni, KWS partner to End Human-wildlife Conflict in Kibwezi East

In a bid to mitigate the long-standing human-wildlife conflict in Kibwezi East, Makueni has partnered with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to extend the protective electric fence by 20km.

The new 20km Wandei- Ngomano section extends the initial 60km Kamunyu-Wandei fence earlier erected by the county government.

This expansion aims to establish a buffer between Tsavo East National Park and human settlements, effectively curbing the numerous attacks on humans by marauding animals, especially elephants.

The contract for this crucial extension was awarded in a ceremony presided over by KWS representative of Senior Assistant Director for Tsavo conservation area Jeremiah Rono, flanked by Environment Chief Officer Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi and Energy Chief Officer Eng. Naomi Nthambi.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CALLS FOR UNIFIED APPROACH TO NAVCDP IMPLEMENTATION IN MAKUENI

May 17, 2024

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has directed the Department of Agriculture and Livestock to embrace a unified governmental approach in implementing the National Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) for sustainable development in Makueni.

Governor Mutula said adopting a cohesive approach would facilitate integration and bolster capacity, thus ensuring that the project’s intended impact is effectively felt by grassroots citizens.

NAVCDP, a five-year initiative, aims to boost market participation and value addition within the mango, dairy, poultry, tomato, and apiculture value chains across all 30 wards in the county.

The County Assembly has also undergone sensitization sessions to ensure smooth implementation. These forums serve as a precursor for the project’s introduction into the communities scheduled for next week.

The governor spoke on Friday during the Cabinet sensitization meeting on NAVCDP, organized by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the County Project Coordination Unit.

MAKUENI ASSEMBLY SENSITIZED ON NATIONAL VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR SEAMLESS IMPLEMENTATION.

Makueni Assembly Sensitized on National Value Chain Development Project for Seamless Implementation

Machakos: May 16, 2024

Makueni Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua on Thursday officially inaugurated a 3-day workshop that convened all members of the Makueni County Assembly .

The workshop seeks to introduce the assembly members to the new agriculture project, the National Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

Mutua emphasized the crucial role of the County Assembly as a major stakeholder in ensuring the successful implementation of the project, especially considering its implementation at the ward levels.

NAVCDP, a five-year initiative, aims to boost market participation and value addition within the mango, dairy, poultry, tomato, and apiculture value chains across all 30 wards in the county.

Representing the County Speaker Mbilu Douglas , Hon. Jonathan Muthoka, the Member of County Assembly for Ilima Ward, expressed steadfast commitment and support to guarantee the project’s benefits reach all farmers in Makueni.

The workshop is being spearheaded by the Department’s leadership in collaboration with the County Project Coordination Unit.

Notable attendee include representative from the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat (PETS), Food Security Advisor Dr. Menjo.