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MAKUENI COUNTY ENGAGES CITIZENS TO PRIORITIZE 2025-26 PROJECTS

Wote: August 13th 2024

Makueni County Treasury has kicked off public participation forums at the ward level to engage citizens in prioritizing projects and programs for implementation during the 2025-26 financial year. The forums aim to incorporate citizens’ views into the County Annual Development Plan (CADP) 2025-26, which will form the basis for the implementation of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023-27.

The meetings are scheduled to take place today in 15 wards, with the remaining wards to be engaged on Thursday. The County Committee Member for Finance and Socio-Economic Planning, Damaris Kavoi, officially opened the Wote ward forum at Wote Social Hall on Tuesday.

In her address, Kavoi highlighted a significant budget cut of Kshs. 430 million due to reduced allocation from the National Treasury. This reduction impacts planned projects and programs at the ward level. She assured County residents that the County Government is actively seeking solutions to address the deficit and ensure continued service delivery to residents.

The theme of the current Annual Development Plan is “Stimulating Local Economies for Shared Prosperity. “

MULILI STRESSES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AT COUNTY STEERING GROUP MEETING”

On Tuesday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili represented Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. at the County Steering Group meeting.

This legal advisory body oversees county initiatives, programs, and projects.

Mulili emphasized the need for community sensitization before project initiation and praised Welt Hunger Hilfe for their successful implementation of water and education infrastructure in the county. She highlighted the organization’s impactful work.

Alice Munyao, the County Drought Coordinator for the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in Makueni, supported Mulili’s view, noting that community involvement in the planning stages fosters ownership of projects.

The County Steering Group, which includes the county governors, the county commissioner (co-chairs), and the NDMA as the secretariat, provides leadership and coordination on collaborative issues.

Members also include representatives from county government departments, development partners, and NDMA.

GOVERNOR MUTULA HOSTS SWEDISH AMBASSADOR FOR BILATERAL TALKS

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Monday welcomed the Swedish Ambassador to Kenya, Caroline Vicini, for a series of discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two regions.

The meeting, held at the Governor’s office, focused on key areas of mutual interest such as the environment, technology and innovation, and agriculture.

Governor Kilonzo expressed the County Government’s willingness to engage in further bilateral discussions, particularly on climate change and technology sectors critical to Makueni’s development.

Ambassador Vicini praised the county’s efforts in youth empowerment during her visit to the Makueni Tech and Innovation Hub and the Ajiry Center.

Ambassador Vicini commended Makueni County’s sustainable water management initiatives after visiting the Kwa Kitungu Sand Dam along the Kaiti River in Wote Municipality.

She later addressed residents of Mbooni near Kivale Forest, highlighting the importance of these environmental efforts.

The events were attended by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, County Commissioner Henry Wafula, CECMs, Majority Leader Kisungi wa Katete, and area MCA Felix Mateso, Kyalo Mumo (Tulimani), Eng. Joseph Muema (Mukaa) and Alexander Mulemba (Mbooni).

THE DEPARTMENT OF GENDER, CHILDREN, YOUTH, SPORTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES HAS CONCLUDED A HIGH-LEVEL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT FORUM ON ULTRA POOR GRADUATION (UPG) POLICY IN WOTE.

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has concluded a high level stakeholder engagement forum on Ultra Poor Graduation (UPG) Policy in Wote.

The policy which is steered by the department in partnership with Village Enterprise aims to create a framework for resource mobilization to help ultra poor residents build financial capacity and graduate to socio-economic resilience and self sufficiency.

Once graduated, the beneficiaries will be in a position to acquire financial capacity to access banking facilities either from mainstream banks or the Makueni County Empowerement Fund (MCEF).

TODAY, FARMERS FROM KATHONZWENI, MAVINDINI, AND MUVAU WARDS TOOK PART IN A FIELD DAY AT MUAMBA IKUNGU VILLAGE IN KATHONZWENI WARD, MAKUENI COUNTY.

Today, farmers from Kathonzweni, Mavindini, and Muvau wards took part in a field day at Muamba Ikungu village in Kathonzweni Ward, Makueni County.

The event, organized by the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), showcased new drought-resistant sorghum varieties: Smart, Ndume, and Jasiri.

These varieties are known for their high yields, nutritional benefits (rich in calcium and iron), and bird resistance, with potential yields of up to 18 bags per acre. This could generate Ksh. 105,000 per acre against a production cost of Ksh. 20,000 per acre.

Joyce Mutua, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, praised the initiative for its potential to improve nutrition, food security and local livelihoods, assuring that certified seeds would be distributed by reputable institutions to farmers within the County.

The event also saw the attendance of Mary Muteti, Director of Agriculture, Dr. Patrick Ketiem from KARLO, and Dr. Chris Ojiewo from CIMMYT.

MAKUENI LAUDED FOR EXEMPLARY GOVERNANCE AND INNOVATION AT PEER REVIEW SUMMIT

Makueni County has been feted for its outstanding public participation governance model by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) /African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Kenya Secretariat at the inaugural National County Peer Review Mechanism Summit held in Nairobi on Wednesday.

The County Peer Review Mechanism (CPRM) is a voluntary self-assessment tool for Kenyan counties, designed to facilitate the sharing of experiences, reinforcement of best practices, identification of deficiencies, and assessment of capacity-building needs to promote political stability, economic growth, and sustainable development.

Makueni, assessed alongside 11 other counties, scored an impressive 71% in public participation. The review, conducted by the CPRM’s Panel of Eminent Persons, involved citizen feedback on devolution since 2013 and covered four main thematic areas: Democracy and Political Governance, Economic Governance and Management, Socio-Economic Development, and Corporate Governance.

The county was also commended for its Green Roads for Water initiative, which integrates water management and re-greening into road design.

Makueni also earned praise for automating its Own Source Revenue (OSR) collection, achieving a revenue target of Kshs. 1 billion in the 2023/24 financial year.

The Maisha Meds Inventory Management System in Makueni also impressed the Panel of Eminent Persons. They urged other counties to adopt similar systems, noting that it has significantly improved the security of commodities in Makueni.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr received accolades for his leadership and pledged to sustain and enhance the county’s performance to ensure continued satisfaction among residents. He was accompanied by Finance CEC Damaris Kavoi and Chief Officer Socio Economic Planning Boniface Mutua.

FIRST COHORT OF SPONSORED STUDENTS COMPLETE EXAMS.

Kwa Kathoka, 6th August 2024

The Agricultural Training College (ATC) celebrated a significant milestone as the first cohort of fully sponsored students successfully completed their exams.

This initiative, supported by the Anglican Development Services (ADS) and the County Government of Makueni, aligns with the National Agriculture Value Chain Development Program (NAVCDP) and aims to enhance skills in key agricultural areas such as poultry, dairy, and horticulture.

The program’s focus on practical training, with a curriculum comprising 20% theory and 80% practical experience, prepares students for real-world applications.

Graduates are equipped to provide extension services or launch entrepreneurial ventures in agriculture.

CEC Member for Agriculture Joyce Mutua, encouraged other wards to follow the example of Kathonzweni Ward, which has already allocated funds to sponsor youths for these training programs.

She emphasized that such initiatives would help bridge the gap in agricultural training and equip the youth with the necessary skills to engage in agri-preneurship.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH SAFARICOM FOR DIGITIZATION OF TETHEKA FUND.

On Tuesday, Makueni County’s Executive Committee Member for Gender, Eng. Peter Mumo, along with his ICT counterpart, Elizabeth Muli, led a multi-sectoral team of officers and stakeholders in reviewing the status of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund’s (Tetheka) new digital system, developed in partnership with Safaricom.

This digital system aims to automate the entire process of Tetheka loans—from application and processing to lending and payment. The primary goals are to enhance inclusion, efficiency, transparency, recovery, and overall accountability.

Eng. Mumo said the system is poised to revolutionize affordable credit access for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, improving their financial empowerment.

The review meeting in Nairobi was also attended by representatives of the Makueni County Assembly Committee on Gender, and representatives from the World Food Programme, our key development partner in social empowerment.

WORD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually during the first week of August. The theme for 2024 is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”

This year’s campaign will honor breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity, recognizing their unique journeys and highlighting the vital role families, communities, and health workers play in supporting them.

In Makueni, we celebrate every breastfeeding mother and advocate for equal access to breastfeeding support for all, recognizing the pivotal role fathers play in supporting women in this endeavor.