Youth

OVER 80 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVE ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES IN MAKUENI

More than 80 people living with disabilities in Makueni County today received assistive mobility devices in a drive organized by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services.

The initiative, led by Executive Committee Members Sebastian Kyoni and Japheth Mang’oka, benefited residents of Kitise/Kithuki, Kathonzweni, Kako/Waia and Ukia wards. In Ukia, 12 groups each received 50 chairs to enhance income generation.

This program is part of the broader social inclusion agenda spearheaded by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s administration, aimed at empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN MAKUENI

The Anita Mbinya Foundation, in partnership with Brighter Monday Kenya, has launched a new initiative dubbed Generation to Kazi, targeting young people aged between 18 and 35 years who have completed technical training lasting six months or one year.

The program which was unveiled at Mbuvo KMTC, aims to equip participants with essential soft and digital skills to enhance their employability and support their transition into entrepreneurship.

Anita Mutula, Makueni County First Lady and Executive Director of the Anita Mbinya Foundation, is urging youth across the county to take advantage of the training opportunities, which will be rolled out in vocational centres and County Technical Training Institutes (CTTIs) throughout Makueni.

The First Lady was flanked by Brighter Monday Kenya officials ,area MCA Kennedy Maneno, Devolution CECM Nickolas Nzioka,COs Felistus Mutune( Office of the Governor),Harvey Mulei(Health),Chief of Staff Mercy Kinyi among other county officials

DG LUCY MULILI DRIVES GRASSROOTS EMPOWERMENT IN EMALI, KILOME DEVELOPMENT TOUR

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday led a development tour of Emali/Mulala, Kasikeu, and Mukaa wards, where she promoted the county’s social inclusion program.

In Emali, Mulili distributed youth empowerment tools, including full public address systems, mechanic support equipment, and state-of-the-art wheelchairs for people with mobility challenges.

At Kasikeu, the Deputy Governor provided sports equipment to organized youth teams to boost sports development in the area.

In Mukaa Ward, 10 social welfare groups each received a 100-seater tent and chairs to support their income-generating activities. Additionally, Mulili distributed footballs to sports teams and wheelchairs to persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Mulili, accompanied by Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, and respective MCAs Cosmus Kaleli, Reuben Kavai and Joseph Muema reiterated Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s commitment to inclusivity and support for vulnerable groups, ensuring no one feels left out in the county development.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CHAMPIONS SOCIAL INCLUSION IN MAKUENI’S DEVELOPMENT

As part of his vision for inclusive development in Makueni, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has placed social inclusion at the forefront of his administration’s priorities.

To ensure no one is left behind, the county government has prioritized mainstreaming persons living with disabilities into its overall development agenda. As part of this commitment, over 840 residents with disabilities have received state-of-the-art wheelchairs in the 2024/2025 Financial Year to enhance their mobility and independence.

440 of these wheelchairs were procured through the ward-based budget. In a complementary effort, the county partnered with Hope Mobility Kenya to provide an additional 400 wheelchairs, distributed in November 2024, reaching even more beneficiaries.

On Thursday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and Executive Committee Member in-charge of Gender Eng. Sebastian Kyoni issued wheel chairs for Nguu/Masumba and Ivingoni/Nzambani wards on the sidelines of an Ujuzi Teke Teke tools issuance exercise.

HOW UJUZI TEKE TEKE IS EMPOWERING MAKUENI YOUTH

In June 2024, Keli Kithome (24 years) a resident of Ivingoni/Nzambani ward graduated from Wote Technical Training Institute with a certificate in plumbing.

Like many young graduates, Keli initially struggled to find meaningful work, resorting to menial jobs to make ends meet. However, his fortunes changed when he became a beneficiary of Ujuzi Teke Teke, a hands-on skills training and tooling program initiated by the Government of Makueni County.

Through this transformative initiative, Keli received a complete set of plumbing tools, enabling him to establish his own plumbing consultancy business.

Keli’s story mirrors that of other 75 young beneficiaries from across the county who have received tools of trade in various vocational fields. The initiative represents a concrete effort by the Government of Makueni County under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s leadership to address youth unemployment by equipping young people with both skills and the necessary tools to kickstart their entrepreneurial journeys.

The tools distribution exercise in Ivingoni/Nzambani and Nguu/Masumba wards was officiated by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, accompanied by Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, the County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services and Nguu MCA Daniel Musau.

45 TULIMANI YOUTH RECEIVE DRIVING LICENSES AFTER SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION

45 graduates of the makueni county driving course from Tulimani ward have today received their licenses after successfully completing the minimum one-month training.

The 45 represent the first batch of 176 who have been trained or are undergoing training in the 2024/2025 financial year across the county. The program forms a key component of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s broader youth empowerment strategy, focused on creating inclusive development opportunities throughout the county.

The issuance of the licenses was graced by Area MCA Kyalo Mumo.

MAKUENI EMPOWERS 65 YOUTH IN KILUNGU WITH FREE DRIVING TRAINING AND LICENSES

Makueni County has launched a one-month intensive motor vehicle training program for 65 young people from Kilungu Ward, conducted by Mumbuni Engineering & Driving School. Upon completion, participants will be licensed as fully qualified drivers.

The initiative, led by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, seeks to enhance youth employability, improve road safety, and advance inclusivity under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s empowerment agenda.

On Wednesday, County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni flagged off the program in a ceremony attended by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Salama Traffic Base Commander, and Kilungu Ward MCA Joseph Mbindyo.

The 65 trainees are part of a larger cohort of 289 youth to benefit from the county-sponsored driving training and licensing program in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.

MAKUENI HOSTS STREET CHILDREN FOOTBALL COMPETITION AHEAD OF DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD CELEBRATIONS

Makueni County on Saturday held a special football tournament for street children at Emali, aiming to connect with them and understand their background, needs, skills and areas of intervention towards their life and livelihood improvement.

Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, who flagged off the tournament, stated that the competition serves as a mobilization tool to help get children off the streets.

With support from Social Development and Children Officers, the department will engage with the children to create individualized care plans, including family reintegration where possible.

Children without family support will be rehabilitated at the Makueni Children Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.

The event was also part of activities leading up to the Day of the African Child to be held on Monday 16th June at Unoa Grounds in Wote.

Makueni is set to host the national celebrations for the Day of the African Child, highlighting efforts to protect and uplift vulnerable children.

According to Kyoni, the initiative aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr vision of social inclusion, promoting equity and equality for all Makueni residents.

KITHUNGO KITUNDU YOUTH RECEIVE BUSINESS START-UP EQUIPMENT

Young entrepreneurs in Kithungo Kitundu Ward have taken a significant step toward self-reliance after receiving essential business start-up equipment from Makueni County’s Ujuzi Teke Teke empowerment program.

The initiative which is spearheaded by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, equips participants with practical skills and tools to launch and sustain their businesses. After completing an intensive 8-week hands-on training in entrepreneurship, the graduates were awarded trade-specific equipment to kickstart their ventures.

County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni presided over the equipment distribution ceremony, flanked by Area Member of County Assembly Kisungi wa Kitete.

This is part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr administration’s commitment to fostering youth innovation and reducing unemployment through such empowerment programs.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT TO TAKE CENTER STAGE IN MAKUENI’S BUDGETING PROCESSES

Makueni’s youth are poised to gain significantly from the 2025/2026 financial year budget and beyond, as the county government focuses on allocating program-based funding for their initiatives and projects.

This announcement was made on Friday by the County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, during a two-day Youth Sector Working Group training on Gender-Responsive Budgeting. The workshop, facilitated by VSO-Kenya, aimed to equip youth champions with skills to advocate for youth participation in budgeting processes, ensuring adequate resource allocation for their programs.

These champions will now engage and mobilize their peers at the grassroots level to actively take part in these processes.

Kyoni emphasized that this initiative aligns with Makueni County’s strategic efforts to fully integrate youth into development, in line with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s vision of social and economic inclusivity, where no one is left behind.

The forum also reviewed a draft youth strategy designed to formulate targeted interventions addressing youth challenges and fostering their growth and development.