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Urban Planning

NLC IN BID TO RESOLVE LAND INJUSTICES

The National Land Commission (NLC) is in Makueni County in an effort to address historical land injustices. NLC Vice Chair, Getrude Nguku, who led a team from Nairobi, told Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. that during their two-day visit in the County, they will look into 14 land cases, verifying documents and also undertake site visits.

Nguku asked parties involved in all historical land injustices in the country to seek mediation for faster resolution of cases.

Governor Mutula cited land injustices, including cases involving Manooni and Mulima dams, as major barriers to development and acces to clean water in the County and requested that such cases be expedited.

He also urged resolution of the delayed Ukai land case affecting the South Eastern Kenya University, SEKU.

Mutula pledged full support to the NLC stressing that justice delayed is justice denied.

County officials present included Lands ECM, Dr. Paul Musila and County Attorney, Stanley Nthiwa. Nguku was accompanied by Head of the Historical Land Injustices Secretariat, Edmond Gichuru and Commissioner Tiyah Galgalo among others.

URBAN LAND USE PLANS – Kathulumbi, Kalawa, Kwakathoka, Thithi, Kiboko and Kayata

Cabinet on Monday approved local, physical and land use plans for 6 towns in Makueni County for submission to the County Assembly.
The plans are for Kathulumbi & Kalawa Towns (Mbooni), Kwa Kathoka (Makueni), Thithi & Kiboko (Kibwezi West) and Kayata in Kilome.
Upon approval by the Assembly, the County Government will embark on surveying and processing of ownership documents.
The detailed maps are shown below:

KALAWA MARKET CENTRE
KATHULUMBI MARKET CENTRE
KAYATA MARKET CENTRE
KWA KATHOKA MARKET CENTRE
THITHI MARKET CENTRE
KIBOKO MARKET CENTRE

MAKUENI MOVES TO RESTORE THREATENED MUAMBWANI KALUMBI COMMUNITY FORESTS

Muambwani and Kalumbi Community Forests in Mbitini Ward are more than just trees—they are lifelines. These precious ecosystems provide the neighboring communities with clean water, firewood, medicinal plants and food, while sheltering hundreds of wildlife species.

These forests are however under threat from unsustainable human practices such as logging, cattle grazing and encroachment, putting both nature and people at risk by shrinking the resources they rely on.

Alarmed by this crisis, Makueni County’s Department of Lands, Urban Planning & Development, Environment and Climate Change has sprung into action. In partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the European Union under the Digital Land Governance Programme, they have completed an intensive four-day biodiversity and socioeconomic assessment—documenting the forests’ rich flora and fauna while mapping the damaging effects of human activity.

This assessment paves the way for the formulation of a Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP)—a community-driven blueprint to restore and sustainably manage the two forests.

Led by FAO’s Cluster Land Technical Specialist, Christopher Sowek, and Makueni County Forester Damaris Mwikali, the plan will empower locals to protect their natural heritage while creating eco-friendly livelihoods such as beekeeping, agroforestry, ecotourism, and plant-based medicinal extracts.

FARMERS HARNESS ROAD RUN-OFF FOR SUSTAINABLE FARMING

Farmers along the 3-kilometer Kavingo-Kyamang’atu-Ilela road in Kako Waia Ward have embraced road run-off harvesting, a transformative initiative led by MetaMeta Research in collaboration with the County Government of Makueni. This innovative approach turns road run-off—traditionally regarded as a problem—into a valuable resource for nature-based farming.

The pilot program, launched by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr in August 2024, has seen over 4,500 meters of mitre drains excavated along the road, 2,000 tree-planting holes prepared, and two gullies successfully rehabilitated.

Beneficiaries of the initiative highlight its multiple benefits, including providing irrigation for crops, preventing soil erosion, recharging groundwater, stabilizing soils and reducing road maintenance costs.

On Friday, 15th November 2024, Energy Chief Officer Eng. Naomi Nthambi led a team from her department and community beneficiaries in planting over 2,500 trees along the road. This effort included 500 fruit trees and indigenous pastures planted on private farms to enrich soil health and improve food access.

Eng. Nthambi reiterated that the county government has integrated the “roads for water” concept into all road-grading projects to ensure sustainable road maintenance and curb soil erosion.She was accompanied by Roads Director Eng. Martin Kitavi and Area MCA Dennis Musyoka during the event.

The team also launched a locally constructed drift, a project collaboratively undertaken by the community and the county government. The community-driven labor initiative demonstrates the sense of ownership and sustainability that defines the program’s success.

MAKUENI LAUNCHES WATER PROJECTS IN WOTE AND MAVINDINI TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE

County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Urban Planning & Development, Environment and Climate Change, Japheth Mang’oka, has unveiled contractors for two water enhancement projects in Wote and Mavindini.

The project in Wote involves the distribution of 100 cubic meters of water per hour from Kaiti 2 sand dam to Camarel in Wote town and Kaseve. This initiative aims to ensure the sustainable provision of water to over 3,000 residents in Wote and its environs.

In Mavindini, the contractor will construct a 100 cubic meters sump and install a 22-kilowatt solar pumping system at the Athi River intake. This project aims to provide clean water for domestic use to 2,500 households and water for irrigation to 400 households in the Katithi, Mavindini, and Ivinganzia sub-locations within Mavindini Sub-Ward.

The projects, co-funded by the county government and the World Bank under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program, are designed to enhance community resilience to drought and water scarcity. They also aim to build adaptive capacities to mitigate the impacts of climate change, natural hazards, and other environmental stressors.

AD-HOC COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ESTABLISHMENT OF MBOONI- KEE MUNICIPALITY.

An ad-hoc committee established to assess the viability of the proposed Mbooni-Kee Municipality has recommended establishment and operationalization of the new Municipality.

In a report presented to Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday, the committee confirmed that the Municipality meets all the criteria set out under Section 9(3a-i) of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, 2011.

The report will be adopted by Cabinet then submitted to Makueni County Assembly for approval.