Departments
Makueni County Marks Safer Internet Day
On the 7th February 2023, the county government through the Department of ICT, Education and Internship hosted this years’ Safer Internet day in Makueni. The two day celebration was held in collaboration with Eveminet Communication Solutions Limited, an organization that is a Safer partner with Meta, TikTok and Google in Sub Saharan Africa and operating in the Education and Technology (Ed-Tech) Industry. The theme for this year was ‘Together For a Better Internet’.
The celebrations looked at a series of Online Safety roundtable engagements aimed at showcasing Innovative and Strategic advancements towards protecting children on the online space together with creating awareness and building capacities to all the players within the ecosystem of the child.
Stakeholders from key sectors around the children ecosystem were present with representation from KESSHA, Makueni Students Association, CIC and CTTI officers, students from Wote PWD centre, Ukia,Wote, Kathonzweni CICs and participation of Makueni boys and Ukia girls high schools.
90 Needy Learners Secure County Scholarships
90 pupils from needy backgrounds who sat for their KCPE in 2022 have secured full scholarships to their secondary schools of choice thanks to the County Government of Makueni.
The 90 were selected from the 30 wards after a thorough vetting exercise by the Department of Education.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr who led the scholarships award ceremony in Wote said the county government will closely monitor the awardees’ educational progress so that non veers off the right course of the education system.
Makueni Human-Wildlife conflict claimants to receive compensation
Getting Health Priorities Right
Makueni Fruit Development Authority Processing plant at Kalamba starts mango processing
The Makueni Fruit Development Authority Processing plant at Kalamba started recieving mangoes for processing. Over 102 MT is in the ripening chamber ready to be processed to puree. The Authority is buying mango through the pre-qualified suppliers at kes. 18 per kg. Minimum farm gate price is kes.15.
Makueni Tech and Innovation hub wins the innovation hub of the year award
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On the 8th December 2022 Makueni Tech and Innovation hub a project by the County Government, was awarded the National Innovation Award in the category county government innovation hub of the year for the initiative to directly support innovators.
Makueni Tech and Innovation Hub aims to provide an open space for entrepreneurs and programmers to access. It also runs periodical innovation challenges tied closely with addressing local and global challenges. The hub has reached over 1000 through its initiatives geared toward building skills through and not limited to small scale manufacturing.
Some of the initiatives the hub has run in collaboration with its partners include:
- Running of two Innovation challenges that have allowed cross learning with the innovation hubs beyond the county thus serving as a platform for county youth to think solutions for local problems and promotion of technology based ideas
- Providing mentorship and training by reaching the unreached through two editions of the Kids tech bootcamps and Developers bootcamp with focus on encouraging women and young girls from highschools
- Hosted the health innovation fair that would support the department of health realize solutions geared to prioritise and address its needs
- Ran and hosted the regional innovation week a first for the region
- Upskilling in small scale manufacturing through Emerging tech-3D printing, NoCode
- Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit amongst youth in areas of business through Peperusha Maisha and in collaboration with local member hub for supporting women and enabling them digitally.
- Support with funding to the top 10 awardees from the two innovation challenges
- Sensitized the community on the start up bill
- Working with Eco-system stakeholders to support the community such us Konza Technopolis, Communications Authority, University of Central Missouri, Association of Countrywide Innovation Hubs, IBM, Cisco, Google, Insight Health Advisors, KIPI and YASA
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Makueni County Farmer Seed Multiplication Program
Ms Joyce Mutua , CECM Agriculture, irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development joined members of Ngamiteka CBO in Kibwezi West, Nguumo ward for the 1st inspection of green gram community seed production.The certified green gram seed requirement for Makueni county stand at 903,352 kg against a supply of 361,340.8kg, by among others KALRO Katumani, Simlaw seeds ltd and dryland seeds. The low access to certified seeds causes farmers to plant own seed (uncertified) totaling to 542,011.2kg P.A hence poor production and increased grain market deficits.
To address the gap, ASDSP II funded an innovation proposal by Ngamiteka CBO to produce green gram community seed. Makueni County with support from ASDSP II program partnered with Egerton University to provide technical support to Ngamiteka CBO to produce KS20 green gram seed variety. A total of 50 farmers each with 5 acres (a total 250acres) were identified in 16 ward and were supported with ripping services, training on seed production, provided with basic seeds, fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, jute bags and inspection services. Seed inspector from Egerton University visiting Ngamiteka CBO members for the 1st inspection of crop establishment. The 2nd inspection scheduled at mid-January 2023, followed by harvesting and storage of planting seeds in jute bags. The farmers are expected to produce 100 metric tons of KS20 green gram seed variety by February 2023.
Dr. Tuiyot, Seed Inspector conducting 1st crop inspection
Distribution of Pesticides to counter African Army worm outbreak
The CECM Agriculture, irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Ms Joyce Mutua led a team of extension officers in fighting the African army worm in Kaiti and Kilome sub counties.The African Army Worm (AAW) Spodoptera exempta is the larva of a migratory night flying moth hich is a pests of cereal crops and pastures. The economic importance of this pest is due to its rapid development, high reproductive capacity, and migration mobility. Outbreaks are commonly preceded by extended drought and follow the onset of wet seasons when dry grasslands produce new growth and cereal crops are planted.The first incident of AAW outbreak was reported in Makueni County in Ivingoni Nzambani andMasongaleni wards in Kibwezi East Sub-County by end of November, 2022. By mid-December 2022, the outbreak had spread in all sub counties. Following the outbreak, the county government in partnership with the National government, moved quickly to combat the pest and avert further damage to crops. A total of 650 litres of assorted chemicals, sprayers and Personal Protective Equipment have been issued to farmers in control the infestation and sensitize to farmers on mitigation measures. The support was distributed to the sub counties based the levels of infestation reported.
Joyce Mutua, ECM Agricuture led county extnsion officers in some parst of Kaiti and Kilome subcounties to provide technical support and supply farmers with pestcides in a move to contain the pest.
The First Batch Of The Newly Appointed Chief Officers Take Oath Of Office
Alfonce Itumo Kanunga Information, Communication and Technology |
Nicholis Mutisya Mutua Education and Internships |
Boniface Musyoki Mutua Socio-Economic Planning, Budget, Revenue, Monitoring and Evaluation |
Japheth Mutuku Kiminza Environment, Natural Resources, Mining and Climate Change |
Eng. James Moki Muli Infrastructure, Transport and Public Works |
Jackson Charo Daudi Lands, Urban Planning and Development |
Eng. David Maithya Makau Water and Sanitation |
Dr. Stephen Ndolo Kiio Health Services |
Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani Mutua Trade, Marketing , Industry, Culture and Tourism |
Daniel Mutuku Ndolo Agriculture and Irrigation |