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Youth

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT TO TAKE CENTER STAGE IN MAKUENI’S 2025/2026 BUDGET

Makueni’s youth are set to benefit from enhanced development opportunities as the county government prioritizes funding for youth-led initiatives in the 2025/2026 Financial Year Budget.

During a Youth Sector Working Group meeting held in Wote, which brought together the county government and partners working with young people, County Executive Committee Member for Youth, Sebastian Kyoni, emphasized that the implementation of key youth empowerment programs will be a cornerstone of the 2025/2026 budget.

Kyoni urged young people to actively participate in the upcoming budget public participation exercise to ensure adequate allocation of funds to youth programs at all levels, starting from the ward level.

The targeted youth empowerment programs include:

• Support for the registration of youth-led businesses to access niche markets;

• Financial and capacity-building support for young people engaged in value addition;

• Strengthening youth advocacy initiatives;

• Support for business start-ups for individuals or youth groups.

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services has committed to creating and supporting a collaborative space for organizations in the youth sector to effectively implement the youth empowerment strategy.

MAKUENI MKJ SUPA CUP TOURNAMENT KICKS OFF

Makueni’s premier sports competition, MKJ Supa Cup, has kicked off where 360 teams of both men and women are battling it out in six disciplines: football, volleyball, basketball, beach volleyball, beach Handball, and 3×3 basketball.

The Supa Cup, an annual tournament, is a culmination of the county’s Ligi Mashinani sports league where teams from the 30 wards compete for a spot at the Supa Cup, which begins at the Sub-county level.

On 8th and 9th March, 2025, Kibwezi East and Kibwezi West Sub-county finals took place, with scouts on the ground to identify outstanding talents and also select an all-star team to fly the sub-county flag to the county finals. On 15th March, Mbooni and Kaiti will stage their finals while action in Kilome and Makueni will take place on 22nd and 23rd.

From the Supa Cup, each of the six sub-counties will select an all-star team for the county finals scheduled for 29th and 30th March, 2025. From the county final, a county team in each discipline will be assembled to represent Makueni at the Kenya Youth Inter-county Sports Association (KYISA) games in Homabay

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr says the tournament provides a structured pathway for young athletes aged 18-23 to develop their skills, gain exposure, and transition into national and international sports careers.

He says through this initiative, Makueni County continues to solidify its reputation as a powerhouse in grassroots sports development, providing a stage where talent meets opportunity.

To further diversify sports, the county government has set the ball rolling to construct an indoor games arena in Wote town. Governor Mutula says this arena, now at design stage, will put Makueni on the same pedestal with other sporting counties, and produce athletes able to compete at the global space.

In February, the county hosted a successful indoor games tournament featuring chess, darts, draughts and pool table competitions.

MKJ INDOOR GAMES FINALS KICK OFF IN WOTE

The MKJ Indoor Games finals commenced on Friday morning in Wote, featuring competition in pool table, chess, darts, and draughts.

The competition brought together 360 finalists from across the county, with pool table attracting 180 participants and the other three disciplines each featuring 60 finalists.

County Executive Committee Member in charge of Sports, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, who officially opened the finals, described the event as a strategic step towards diversifying sports in Makueni. This initiative aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s vision of promoting social inclusion and ensuring no one is left behind.

The event has attracted officials from national sports federations, who are working with the county government to establish a framework for integrating these disciplines into the annual sports calendar. This move will facilitate the organization of tournaments and the identification and development of raw talent for nurturing and potential monetization.

GOVERNOR MUTULA GRACES 1ST EDITION OF KITHUNGO/KITUNDU WARD SPORTS FESTIVAL

Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Monday presided over the inaugural Kithungo/Kitundu Sports Festival at Kitundu Green Stadium, an event aimed at uniting the youth through sports while promoting talent, community cohesion, and sportsmanship.

The governor was accompanied by area MCA Hon. Kisungi wa Katete, Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services CECM Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, Devolution CECM Nicholas Nzioka, other county officials, and distinguished guests.

Attendees were treated to an exciting lineup of sporting activities, including soccer, basketball, and athletics. In the soccer finals, Ngai FC emerged victorious after a dramatic 6-5 penalty shootout against Utangwa FC after a barren draw in the finals, with Kitundu FC securing third place after defeating Kithungo FC 2-0. In basketball, Kitundu dominated their opponents—Kyandote, Uma, and Utangwa—to claim the championship.

Governor Mutula condemned the ongoing abductions and disappearances of youth in the country. He urged the national government to take swift action and fulfill its duty of providing security to its people and ensuring the safety of our youth.

The festival highlighted the County government’s commitment to empowering young people and fostering community development through sports. Governor Mutula reiterated his administration’s dedication to creating safe spaces and opportunities for the youth to thrive.

KILOME WINS MKJ BODA-BORA FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT.

Soon after the Jamhuri Day celebrations in Wote, the stage was set for a thrilling finale as Kibwezi West and Kilome faced off in the finals of the MKJ Boda-Bora Football Tournament finals.

Kilome emerged winners in a hotly-contested match at the Unoa Stadium.

Kibwezi West had on Wednesday secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Mbooni in the semi-finals, while Kilome triumphed over Kibwezi East with a hard-fought 1-0 to set up the finals.

Kilome scored the lone goal at the 44th minute on the first half.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. witnessed the finals and awarded the winners.

The champions took home Ksh. 50,000 and a trophy, while runners up received Ksh.40,000, with position three, four, five and six receiving Ksh. 20,000, 15,000,10,000, and 5,000 respectively.

Joining the governor were Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, CECM Eng. Sebastian Kyoni (Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services), National Boda Boda chairman, Kevin Mubadi and Makueni Boda Boda chairman, Urbanus Mutisya among others.

The MKJ Boda-Bora Football Tournament was organized from the Ward level, involving two teams of 15 members each in all the 30 Wards.

A total of 1,800 Boda Boda riders participated.

DEPUTY GOVERNOR LUCY MULILI LAUNCHES ULTRA-POOR GRADUATION POLICY IN WOTE

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili today presided over the launch of the Ultra-Poor Graduation Policy at Wote Green Park.

The initiative, spearheaded by the County Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services in collaboration with Village Enterprise, aims to empower the ultra-poor to achieve socio-economic resilience and self-sufficiency. Through the program, beneficiaries have gained financial literacy skills, enabling them to build financial capacity and access banking services from mainstream financial institutions and the Makueni County Empowerment Fund.

The event was graced by key county leaders, including County Secretary Justin Kyambi, Executive Committee Member for Gender Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, Makueni Public Service Board CEO Redempta Kavindu, and Chief Officer Nicholis Mutua, among others.

MAKUENI COUNTY STRENGTHENS COLLABORATION WITH AIRD TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

Makueni, through the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has formalized its working partnership with Africa Initiative For Rural Development (AiRD) to enhance development co-creation.

The Non-Governmental Organization has been working in the county without any formal framework for collaboration with the county government, even though it has implemented highly transformative and impactful community projects and programs.

Some of the projects include drilling of a 50 cubic meters water borehole at Mutyambua and another in Kiima Kiu. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said the county government will inject funds for distribution to reach as many households as possible. Other projects include training of 785 young people on entrepreneurship; joint resource mobilization for socio-economic interventions; Research on emerging issues and possible interventions.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and AiRD Chief Executive Officer Fredrick Kasina signed the agreement in Wote, Tuesday, during a round table discussion to enhance the partnership.

MAKUENI DEPUTY GOVERNOR HANDS TOOLS OF TRADE TO 90 YOUNG PEOPLE.

Atleast 90 young people from across the county have been handed tools of trade by the County Government of Makueni to start their own businesses.

The 90 have undergone an intensive 8-week on-the-job training under the supervision of identified master craftsmen through a program dubbed UJUZI TEKE TEKE by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services.

The program, according to Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Peter Mumo, is geared towards bridging the capital gap in entrepreneurial development by young people.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili who graced the event held at the Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre, Wote, said the county government aims to create a critical mass of skilled man power who can steer the county economy through self-employment and provision of cheap skilled labour.

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).

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.