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Hope for cotton farmers as Kibwana moves to revive cash crop

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana has launched campaigns for the revival of cotton farming in the county.

Talks are in top gear to initiate the revival of cotton farming with mobilization targeting previous cotton sectors in the area already launched.

Addressing delegates at the Business to Business Forum held at the Kusyombunguo hotel in Wote Town on Thursday Prof Kibwana said efforts are being made to revive the cash crop killed by mismanagement of the industry during the Kanu regime.

 He said the Department of Agriculture has been mobilizing farmers to sensitize them about ongoing efforts to restart the cash crop farming in the area.

“We want to revive the cotton sector, here in Makueni it used to thrive in the past and we must find a way of getting it back,”Prof Kibwana said.

He said that a number of stakeholders in the sector have been contacted and that they have already expressed interest in working with the county government to support the cotton farming revival.

Said Prof Kibwana: “We had a meeting yesterday with farmers. We have begun sensitizing our farmers to go back to cotton farming.”

The governor called on local parents to allocate land to their young children interested in cash crop farming.

Agriculture ECM Lawrence Nzunga said the department was keen on supporting the revival of cotton farming in Makueni saying it was an activity with great potential for the local residents.

“We are talking to people about it. We are happy that many are getting interested and experts are already here to provide professional guidance as we plan the revival,” said Mr Nzunga.

Delegates from various counties participated in the forum organized by Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity and sponsored by FeediFuture and USAID.

I get treated in our Local Public Hospitals when unwell: Kibwana

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana has revealed he has always sought treatment from public hospitals within the county due to quality services provided by various local health institutions.

Unlike his colleagues known for seeking treatment abroad Prof Kibwana said he at one point went through a successful slight operation from the Makueni Level 4 hospital, saying improved health services in various public health facilities in the county has made local institutions preferable.

“I get treated in our hospitals here.When I fall sick I go to the Level Four hospital and when I get unwell when in Nairobi I go to hospitals there.

Many of our staff also go to our public hospitals here in Makueni despite having enrolled in various medical schemes. It shows we have confidence in our institutions,”Prof Kibwana said.

The governor who was speaking during the Health Workers Excellence Awards Ceremony held at Kwa Kathoka to honour successful employees of the county’s department of health said Makueni medical staff had generally performed well in the implementation of programs under their mandate.

“Even though we are recognizing people here who made it.There are many others who are not here but who also contributed to this success,”Prof Kibwana noted.

He singled out the implementation the Universal Health Care program saying it had propelled the county to higher levels nationally.

“I am really very happy to join you this morning as we celebrate the achievement of various health department staff. Indeed you have made Makueni proud,”the governor said.

He said the successful Universal Health Care program was initiated by the leadership of the department and congratulated them for coming up with a largely successful idea.

Prof Kibwana said he was keen on major improvements in the local healthcare systems for the benefit of the people before his retirement as governor.

He also urged the department to ensure revenue obtained through charges levied on NHIF card holders was collected and used to support infrastructural development in various hospitals.

Mwau visits an assaulted woman at Makindu Level 4 Hospital

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau yesterday visited a 25-year-old woman whose tongue was nearly cut by unknown people at Makindu level 4 hospital.

Grace Mwikali narrated her ordeal to the DG, noting that she went into a comma after the attack only to wake up several hours later outside Tumaini bar with her tongue daggling outside her mouth.

She said  that she had walked into the Tumaini pub in Makindu for a drink when the incident happened.

Ms Mwikali told the DG that she was attacked after relocating to an adjacent bar where she had been joined by two other friends.

“What followed after is still a misery to me because I cannot  remember anything but I can recall holding up my tongue from falling with blood oozing from my mouth at wee hours,” She said.

She explained to Mwau that friends who have visited her at the hospital have indicated that some suspects have been apprehended.

Ms Mwikali, the mother of two is said to have been picked by police officers on patrol and rushed to Makindu level 4 hospital where she has been receiving medication.

Mwau condemned the attack describing it as part of a sustained abuse against women and called on the police to apprehend all the attackers saying they had no right to abuse her.

“If they are found guilty let them be prosecuted and serve their punishment,” the DG said.

“As leaders we must initiate campaigns against alcoholism and create awareness, if we want Makueni to be a poverty free county,” she noted.

Mwau said that alcohol for women can be dangerous adding that they become more vulnerable for rape and attacks.

Dr. Khalid Kibwezi West sub-county medical officer of health said Ms Mwikali was brought to the hospital on May 25 by the police who picked her by the roadside.

“She wasn’t coherent on the first days but after her tongue stitched that is when she regained consciousness,”Dr.Khalid said.

Kibwana leads Campaigns for Municipal Charter

Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana today led campaigns to sensitize Makueni residents on the proposed charter for Wote Municipality.

Prof Kibwana said that under the new arrangement the municipality will be managed by a board headed by a municipal manager.

The governor said the board will comprise nine members whose appointment will be based on a number of laid down factors.

‘’The board shall exercise legislative authority by passing municipal by –laws that shall be approved by majority of the board members but with full public participation. It shall have powers over municipal assets and employ their staff in consultation with the municipal manager,’’Prof Kibwana said.

Prof Kibwana who spoke to members of the business community from Wote/Nziu,Kako/Waia,Ukia and Muvau/Kikumini wards during the event  said the municipality will help engage good governance and equity in distribution of resources.

He said the new arrangement will also be used to ensure social cohesion.

Prof Kibwana reported that  both transport,infrastructure,housing and urban development ministries have partnered with the World Bank and set aside funds to support 45 municipalities in Kenya,Makueni included.

‘’All the  county headquarters except for the  established cities of Nairobi and Mombasa are eligible to access this funding for the urban development grant and the urban institutional grant as long as the counties have met all the minimum conditions set out under the grant terms and conditions,”the governor said.

He further  said  that Sh 20 million will be disbursed in the first year,the same amount of money in the second year and Sh 10 more million in the third year for urban institutional grant.

He said under  the urban development grant,the first tranche of Sh 135 million shall be accessed based on the total population pegged at Sh 2,000 per person depending on population of an area.

‘’I therefore also implore upon you as stakeholders to consider and agree on the proposed charter, which will then be considered and approved by executive committee and forwarded to the county assembly for consideration and approval,”Prof Kibwana said.

Lands ECM Mr Joshua Wambua said that the municipality will provide efficient and accountable management of its affairs.

‘’It will as well verify whether public resources and authority are utilized or exercised as the case may be to its satisfaction’’ Mr Wambua said.

Deputy Chief Justice and Deputy Governor condemn Kilungu Minor’s gang rape

Deputy Chief Justice Phelomena  Mwilu has condemned an incident where a standard six pupil at Kilungu Ward was defiled by a gang of several men.

The girl is allegedly said to have been gang raped by 21 men,one of them alleged to be a primary school teacher.

Mwilu said that that acts of sexual offenses are highly punishable adding that those who commit such offenses against the young are supposed to be severely punished.

“When you molest a young girl.You should get  life imprisonment as punishment,” The Deputy Chief Justice said.

Mwilu who is also the deputy president of the Supreme Court urged magistrates not to be linient on those found to have committed sexual offenses especially those who violate children.

She said that magistrates have no options but to stick to the law when handling rape related cases.

She urged the society not to harbour or sympathise with those found to be violating others sexually.

“Parents should be cautious and remain watchful especially when children are out alone,”Ms Mwilu stated.

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, promised a psycho social aid and exclusive medical  support to the young girl.

Mwau expressed shock that grown men would molest and defile a  kid in turns terming it the most horrendous sexual act ever.

Defilement cases are on the rise  with Makueni recording an escalating trend.

She said that the County Government is putting up a gender based recovery center at Makueni level 4 hospital that will see GBV victims acquire psycho social support as well as proper treatment and care.

The two were speaking after a church service at St Patrick Catholic Church, Kyamatheka in Kaiti Constituency.

Kibwana commissions distribution of 50,000 title deeds

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana on Friday led local residents in celebrating this year’s madaraka day by commissioning the issuance of 50,000 freehold title deeds at Nunguni.

The two-week distribution exercise, facilitated by the county government, will be conducted across the county.

The event was also attended by County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed, Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, assembly speaker Douglas Mbilu, MPs Joshua Kimilu Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo as well as County Secretary Paul Wasanga.

Prof Kibwana said the lands department is undertaking several projects with a view to securing land tenure for a majority of the urban and rural populations:

Among these include: Survey for issuance of leasehold titles which has been extended to six markets spread out within all the Sub Counties.

The exercise involves the establishment of survey controls, picking and plotting of all property boundaries and preparation of survey plans from data collected for onwards processing with the Directorate of Land Surveys.

He said Support has also been extended to National Government Departments like the District Land Adjudication and Settlement Office through financing the remainder of activities towards resolution of arbitration board cases and hearings with a view to finalizing the adjudication areas for onwards gazettement and publication of registers.

The department has also facilitated the National Land Commission for the allocation of public land for public use as well as alienating land for public good.

Successful excisions have been done for Kevanda, Ngai Ndethya, Kiboko A, B and C and resolving long standing disputes for Mikululo, Mukaa Mbita among others.

Prof Kibwana said his administration is working on Makueni Big Four Agenda as captured in the County Integrated Development Plan (2018-2022), which include;

Reliable potable water for domestic use, Food security and agricultural commercialization. Youth, Women and persons with disability (PWD) economic empowerment and Institutional strengthening and capacity development.

The county commissioner assured Prof Kibwana of his support in combating illegal sand harvesting and insecurity.

“We will work together to deal with the illegal sand harvesting and insecurity,” said Mr Mohammed.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON PREPARATION OF FINANCE BILL 2018

Pursuant to article 201 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and Section 132 of Public Finance Management Act, 2012, The Makueni County has scheduled meetings for public participation on preparation of the county Finance Bill 2018.

A copy of the draft finance bill can be accessed online below.

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Makueni County Finance Billl 2018 Draft

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Details of the scheduled dates and venues are as listed;

FINANCE BILL 2018 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
SUB COUNTY WARD MARKETS VENUE DATE TIME
MAKUENI Wote/nziu wote Wote social hall 5th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
muvau kwa kathoka ATC kwa kathoka 5th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Mavindini Mavindini Mavindini Market 6th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Kitise/Kithuki Kitise Kitise Market 6th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Kathonzweni Kathonzweni Kathonzweni hall 7th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Kalamba/ Nzaui/Kilili Matiliku Matiliku Market 7th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Mbitini kavuthu Kavuthu mkt shed 7th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
MBOONI Mbooni mbumbuni kikimai social hall 5th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Tulimani Kalawani Do’s office 5th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Kiteta/Kisau Tawa Tawa Social Hall 6th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Kako/Waia Kako Wambiti socila hall 6th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Kalawa Kalawa Kalawa Social Hall 7th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Kithungo/ Kitundu Kithungo Kithungo Market shed 7th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
KAITI Okia Mukuyuni CDF office 5th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Kee Kee kee Social Hall 5th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Kilungu Nunguni Kilungu Aic Church 6th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Ilima Kyambeke Ack Kyambeke 6th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
KILOME Kasikeu sultan Redeemed church 5th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Kasikeu kasikeu Kasikeu open air market 5th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Mukaa Upete Upete Market 6th June 2018 10:00am-12:00pm
Kiima Kiu/ Kalanzoni Salama Salama Market 6th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
KIBWEZI WEST Kikumbulyu
South		 Kibwezi Muslim social hall kibwezi 5th June 2018 10:00am-12:00pm
Makindu Makindu Makindu social Hall 5th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Nguu/Masumba masumba Masumba social
Market		 6th June 2018 10:00am-12:00pm
Nguumo Nguumo Kiundwani library hall 6th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Emali/Mulala Emali Kwa Kakulu CTTI 7th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Kikumbulyu
North		 Kisayani Kisayani chiefs office 7th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
KIBWEZI EAST Mtito Andei Mtito Andei Baptist Church Kathekani 5th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Thange Machinery Maikuu social hall 5th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm
Masongaleni Nthongoni Ward Admins office 6th June 2018 10:00 am-12:00pm
Ivingoni/ Nzambani Kambu Makutano social hall 6th June 2018 2:00pm-4:00pm

Members of the Public can also make their contribution by emailing their proposals via finance@makueni.go.ke OR forward written proposals to Head of County  Treasury,  Makueni County P.O.Box 78- 90300 Wote.

Kindly ensure that your proposals are received on or before 6th June, 2018.
MARY KIMANZI
COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER-FINANCE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING AND HEAD OF COUNTY TREASURY

We need concerted efforts to address menstrual hygiene management – Nazi

Makueni County First Lady Nazi Kivutha has applauded the national government for recently releasing the sanitary towels consignments to the counties.

Nazi observed that other several organisations were addressing the various aspects of menstrual hygiene management but urged that there was need for concerted efforts in a bid to empower the girl child for holistic development.

She said: “Allow me to congratulate the national government through the ministry of Public Services, Youth and Gender Affairs for recently releasing sanitary towels consignment to the counties. With countless organisations joining us we need concerted efforts to address this issue as a whole.”

She however noted that significant barriers persist and continue to be major challenges to women and girls during their menstruation especially from low income households.

Nazi also observed that in most rural areas across the country, girls miss schools for up to 5 days every month and that 65% of them cannot afford sanitary towels.

“Significant barriers continue to be major challenges facing women and girls during their menstruation. Most of them come from low income households and cannot afford sanitary towels,” she said.

Nazi spoke on Monday during the Menstrual Hygiene Day celebrations in Kisumu, a national platform that brought together non-profits, government agencies, the private sector, the media and individuals to promote menstrual hygiene management.

She further stated that young girls engage in sexual activities which results to increased adolescent pregnancies and early marriages as most of them turn to transactional sex in a bid to acquire the sanitary towels.

In Makueni county, similar celebrations were held at Kiambani day and Boarding primary school where officials from the county government, the national government and non-state actors distributed sanitary towels to school going girls.

Clean Water for Wote

Wote town is now almost water secure after the commissioning of two water treatment plants for the town, one constructed by the Government of Makueni County and the other by the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS).

The two plants, commissioned on Wednesday  by Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Abbas Gullet, have an output capacity of 90 cubic meters of water per hour, but with an installed pumping capacity of 70 cubic meters per hour.

Water executive committee member Robert Kisyula has said the installation will be able to pump for 20 hours a day, guaranteeing Wote residents 1,400 cubic meters of clean water.

With Mwaani bore hole producing 400 cubic meters per day, the total water supply to Wote town is currently 1,800 cubic meters, he says.

Mr. Gullet has announced that the Kenya Red Cross Society will donate its plant to the county government even though it was supposed to be a temporary measure to address the water crisis which hit Wote town after breaching of Kamunyolo dam and collapse of the Kaiti sump roof slab.

Governor Kibwana said his administrastion has besides the above projects put in place other short term and long term measures to ensure sustained supply of sufficient and potable water for Wote town in line with the county’s Vision 2025 and CIDP 2018-2022.

The short term measures include repair and reconstruction of Kaiti sand dam with collection galleries and increasing height of the weir by one meter. This, he said, will give more than 1400m³/day.

Other measures include piping water from Kitikyumu borehole (with a yield of 20M³/hr) to Makueni boys tanks and distributed to wote town. This source is expected to inject 400m³/day into the supply network. The project shall be implemented within 30 days from commencement.

The long-term measures according to Governor Kibwana include:  Completion of Kaiti/Kamunyii water project which is a sump funded by the national government through TANATHI. This is expected to produce at least 800m³ per day.

Reconstruction of Kamunyolo earth dam plus the treatment works and extra clear water tank of 400m³.

Construction of Kiia Nzou mega dam along Kaiti river in Kee Ward, which will be expected to produce over 2,000M³/day and flow by gravity to Wote town. Design and fundraising for the same is being done jointly with Kenya Red Cross Society with a proposed budget of Ksh1.0B. The same dam will also provide water for the four Wards of Kaiti Subcounty namely Kee, Ilima, Kilungu and Ukia.

The Thwake multipurpose dam once constructed is expected to supply more than 2000M³/day of water per day to Wote town.

Governor Kibwana said supply to Wote town and its environs will hit close to 7000M3/day, which will be able to meet the projected growth and water demand by 2025 and beyond once all these projects are up and running.

Kibwana Tips County Lawmakers on Public Participation and Civic Education

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana has urged counties to invest in civic education and public participation as a way of facilitating mindset change and enabling the people to take charge of devolution.

Prof Kibwana said poverty, dependency syndrome and community pulse cannot be overcome without the change of mindsets.

He told the County Assembly Members’ Forum in Mombasa on Thursday that engaging the people through public participation was an easy way of helping grow confidence in the management of devolved resources.

“Counties need to invest in civic education, community capacity building and mindset change programs,” said Prof Kibwana.

He also said that legislators need to devolve power, authority and mandate to community members so that they can plan and decide on the issues that affect them.

Prof Kibwana stated: “County governments have to relinquish to the development committees powers to design priorities and even to execute what can be done at community level.”

He noted that there was need for the county governments to come up with capacity building plans for the development committees saying that the capacities become the basis upon which poverty eradication measures and techniques are discussed.

Prof Kibwana said that public participation is not just about gatherings in town halls and therefore should be handled systematically to provide the real needs and priorities for the communities.

“Communities have the solutions for their problems. They lack the capacity and opportunities to plan for themselves and defend what clearly belong to them,” said the governor.

He further added: “Let us devolve the powers of participation to the communities and watch the poser of self-governance taking over this country through our counties.”

More than 2,000 members of the county assemblies and senators are participating in the forum which started on Monday.