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KENYA PRISONS SERVICE COMMISSIONER GENERAL PATRICK ARUNDUH MONDAY PAID A COURTESY CALL ON MAKUENI GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR.

Kenya Prisons Service Commissioner General Patrick Arunduh Monday paid a courtesy call on Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., with the two leaders agreeing to strengthen collaboration to address critical challenges facing Makueni Prison Facilities—chief among them water scarcity.

During the meeting, Commissioner General Arunduh underscored the need for closer synergy between national and county governments, noting that both levels of governance serve the same citizens and must work together to deliver lasting solutions.

In a key commitment, Governor Mutula pledged county support for the sinking of a borehole at Makueni Main Prison, a move expected to ease water shortages at the facility while also benefiting the surrounding community.

Beyond water, the Kenya Prisons Service team pledged to deepen cooperation with the county by deploying its technical experts to support vocational training programs, strengthening rehabilitation and skills development for inmates.

MAKUENI PREPARES FOR E-VOUCHER FMD VACCINATION ROLLOUT

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock on Thursday concluded a two-day training on the e-voucher Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination model, ahead of its rollout in the county.

The training brought together 40 Veterinary Surgeons(VS) and Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs), alongside representatives from 13 Farmer Producer Organizations (VPOs) where participants were equipped with skills to implement the digital vaccination system smoothly.

Speaking during the closure of the training, CECM for Agriculture and Livestock, Liz Muli, urged Farmer Producer Organization leaders to take the lead in mobilizing farmers to embrace the new system.

She further noted that the digital approach will improve efficiency, transparency and disease control across the county, adding that strong collaboration between service providers and farmer groups is key to protecting livestock and improving productivity in Makueni.

During the registration exercise, farmers will be enrolled on the Mifugo 360 app using their national ID numbers and mobile phone contacts.

Upon successful registration, each farmer will receive an e-voucher worth KSh 50 per cow, issued according to the number of animals presented for vaccination.

The vaccination will be carried out through 13 cooperatives across the county, with farmers registering their livestock online at the nearest cooperative.

SH10.26 BILLION PROJECTS DRIVE MAKUENI’S PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday unveiled the County Statistical Abstract 2025 and the County Development Profiles, two key government documents designed to measure progress, track service delivery and anchor decision-making on reliable, up-to-date data.

Speaking during the launch, the Governor reported strong growth in own-source revenue, which rose from Sh891 million in the 2022/23 financial year to Sh1.29 billion in the last financial year, an increase of nearly 45 per cent. He attributed the growth to improved technology, efficiency and public trust.

Over the same period, the county consistently allocated more than Sh3.2 billion annually to development expenditure, ensuring resources were translated into services and infrastructure that directly improve livelihoods.

According to the County Development Profile, 1,430 projects valued at approximately Sh10.26 billion were implemented across all wards and sub-counties.

In the water sector, the county increased water storage by 900,000 cubic metres through flagship earth dams, benefiting more than 225,000 residents and 45,000 households. This investment reduced the average distance to water sources from five kilometres to four kilometres and raised household access to potable water to 44.6 per cent.

The Governor further noted that through partnerships, his administration mobilized over Sh592 million, including climate financing under the FLLoCA programme.

During the review period, the county opened 2,327 kilometres of new roads and maintained 5,160 kilometres, expanded rural electrification to more than 2,100 households, and installed solar systems in health facilities and public institutions.

The Governor was accompanied by his deputy Lucy Mulili, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Senior Manager for National Statistical Systems John Bore, County Assembly Speaker, several MCAs, Finance CECM Damaris Kavoi, and other county government officials.

TWO KEY DOCUMENTS TO ANCHOR EVIDENCE-BASED PLANNING IN MAKUENI

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. is currently unveiling the Makueni County Statistical Abstract 2025 alongside the County Development Profiles at MIVEC, two flagship government publications designed to strengthen evidence-based planning and accountability.

The documents will serve as key instruments for measuring development progress, tracking service delivery and anchoring decision-making on reliable, up-to-date data.

The Statistical Abstract presents credible, verified and disaggregated data on population dynamics, socio-economic indicators, service delivery and development trends across the county.

Complementing it, the County Development Profiles translate this data into clear, tangible outcomes, detailing the resources invested, where they were deployed and the impact they have delivered to the people of Makueni.

Together, the publications are expected to provide policymakers, development partners and the public with a clear picture of the county’s development trajectory and priorities.

COUNTY RALLIES LEADERS TO STRENGTHEN MANGO MARKETING AMID BUMPER HARVEST

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday held a consultative meeting with CDDC chairpersons, SACCO leaders, Mango lead farmers and the 7 Cooperatives supplying mangoes to the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant to review the mango marketing status of ward-based Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

The leaders were updated on the current season mango offtake totaling to over 8 million Metric Tonnes and valued at Kshs 260M through exporters, processors and both urban and rural fresh markets.

The forum, attended by County Secretary Dr. Justine Kyambi, focused on practical strategies to manage the ongoing bumper harvest while strengthening collective marketing to safeguard farmer incomes.

Addressing the meeting, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development CECM Liz Muli urged local leaders to mobilize farmers to join organized producer groups which would enable the County Government to negotiate better prices, secure stable markets, and deliver extension services more efficiently.

Dr. Kyambi reaffirmed the county’s commitment to protecting farmers from market exploitation and ensuring fair returns for their produce.

He further emphasized that the initiative aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s agenda of economically empowering households through structured, market-driven agriculture.

MAKUENI JOINS UNESCO GLOBAL NETWORK OF LEARNING CITIES.

Makueni County has been admitted into the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), becoming the fifth county in Kenya to join the prestigious network after Nairobi, Kilifi, Garissa and Laikipia. The milestone is set to strengthen education, skills development and lifelong learning across the county.

The GNLC, launched by UNESCO in 2013, brings together over 350 learning cities and local governments in more than 75 countries worldwide, promoting lifelong learning as a driver of sustainable development. Membership connects Makueni to a global community that shares best practices in education policy, vocational training, digital learning and community-based education.

Speaking at UNESCO offices in Nairobi, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. said the recognition will enhance Makueni’s global profile, attract partnerships and strengthen ongoing investments in education, culture, natural sciences, social and human sciences, among others.

Secretary General Dr. James Njogu said the admission affirms the County’s strong commitment to inclusive and lifelong learning noting that joining the GNLC will open new opportunities for knowledge exchange.

MAKUENI COUNTY, FADHILI TRUST SEAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The Government of Makueni County has entered into a strategic partnership with Fadhili Trust following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing sustainable and inclusive development across the county.

The MoU was signed at the Makueni County Headquarters, marking the start of a collaborative framework that will leverage shared resources, expertise, and innovation to improve the livelihoods of Makueni residents.

Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. underscored the critical role of partnerships in driving sustainable development. He further noted that the collaboration with Fadhili Trust comes at an opportune time and aligns with the county’s development agenda, emphasizing inclusive growth and long-term impact.

Fadhili Trust Executive Director, Josephine Munywoki described the partnership as a catalyst for unlocking Makueni County’s potential in key priority sectors. She outlined areas of cooperation that include agriculture and livestock production, gender equality, education, water access, clean energy, and the empowerment of youth and women.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by senior county and institutional officials, among them County Secretary Dr. Justine Kyambi, County Attorney Stanley Nthiwa, and Fadhili Trust Project Officer Matthew Mutembei.

MAKUENI COUNTY SEEKS DATA ON BODA BODA SECTOR.

The Makueni County Department of Gender, Youth, Children, Sports and Social services on Monday held a consultative meeting with boda boda leaders from across the county to address key issues within the sector.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Youth, Children, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni chaired the meeting which brought together chairpersons representing boda boda stages, Wards, sub-counties and the county leadership.

During the engagement, the County Government and boda boda leadership agreed to undertake a countywide exercise to establish accurate data on boda boda operators. The exercise will capture key information including ownership of motorcycles, insurance status, identification documents, driving licences, and the specific needs of riders. It will also assess membership in Saccos, self-help groups and welfare associations.

Eng. Kyoni noted that the data will guide the County Government in designing targeted interventions to support the boda boda sector, improve safety standards and effective service delivery.

County Boda Boda Chairperson Benard Mutisya affirmed the sector’s commitment to work closely with the county to streamline the sector.

GOVERNOR MUTULA ASSURES MANGO FARMERS OF SUPPORT, PROMISES AUDIT OF MANGO PURCHASES

The county government will carry out a thorough audit into how savings and credit cooperative societies (Saccos) have been purchasing mangoes, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has said.

Speaking while addressing residents during the commissioning of the Ngaaka Health Centre in Makindu, the governor said the process will audit how the entire process was carried out and warned that anyone found culpable of irregularities in the mango procurement process would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He said the Kalamba fruit processing plant cannot absorb all mangoes produced in the county, particularly during peak harvest seasons.

To address the gap, the county has deployed additional measures to support the mango value chain, including the use of cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

OVER 8,000 RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT AS NGAAKAA LEVEL 3 HEALTH FACILITY IS COMMISSIONED

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Monday officially commissioned the Ngaakaa Level 3 Health Facility in Makindu–Twaandu Ward, marking a significant boost to healthcare access for residents of the area.

The facility, constructed through a partnership between the County Government of Makueni, World Vision Kenya and the Mountain Blue Foundation, is expected to serve a population of more than 8,000 people in the ward and its surrounding areas.

During the commissioning ceremony, the Governor also unveiled four one-bedroom en-suite staff quarters, two 15-kilogram commercial heavy-duty laundry machines that are Wi-Fi enabled and can be operated remotely, and a 50-kilowatt-hour powerhouse. The power system will run critical equipment, including an X-ray machine, a sterilizer, an ultrasound unit and all laboratory equipment at the facility.

Ngaakaa Level 3 Health Facility comprises a fully equipped Mother and Child Hospital that will oversee antenatal and postnatal services, cervical cancer screening and child welfare clinics, complete with a patient waiting bay. The facility also features an acute care room, a fully functional pharmacy and laboratory, a modern 15-bed maternity wing, an isolation ward and several consultation rooms.

The Governor further noted that his administration remains keen on promoting universal health coverage. He said the newly commissioned health facility reflects the county’s commitment to achieving this goal.

He also announced that Makindu Sub-County Hospital will soon begin offering dialysis services following the recent posting of a nephrologist, a move he said will ease the burden on patients who previously had to seek the services at Makueni County Referral Hospital in Wote.