Youth

MAKUENI COUNTY, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD PARTNER TO EMPOWER YOUTH WITH SKILLS AND START-UP SUPPORT

The County Government of Makueni has partnered with Light for the World Kenya to equip youth with both soft and technical skills in a transformative training initiative.

The programme has already made a huge impact in Kibwezi West, where 18 out of 25 trainees successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship after completing a six-month training course.

The young entrepreneurs also received start-up grants to help launch and grow their businesses.

Building on this success, the County on Tuesday flagged off another cohort of 40 youth living with disabilities from Wote Municipality.

The training, launched by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, will see 20 participants begin immediately in the first phase, with sessions running through to December.

As part of the county’s broader inclusivity agenda, Mulili affirmed plans to allocate market spaces for persons with disabilities, enabling them to establish and operate their businesses sustainably.

26 YOUTH IN MAKUENI SET TO LAUNCH BUSINESSES THROUGH “UJUZI TEKE TEKE” EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

Twenty six young budding entrepreneurs from Kikumbulyu South ward are set to transform their futures after receiving startup tools under the Ujuzi Teke Teke skills program.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, equips trainees with hands-on mentorship from seasoned business owners (master craftsmen) before providing them with trade-specific kits to launch their own enterprises.

County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni presided over the tools distribution, hailing the program as a catalyst for local economic growth.

Tools provided include: barbering & salon kits, welding equipment, mechanical repair kits, tailoring kits and car wash machines.

GOVERNOR MUTULA SEEKS NYS PARTNERSHIP TO ACCELERATE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Wednesday held talks with Kenya National Youth Service (NYS) Commandant, General James Tembur at the NYS Headquarters in Nairobi to initiate government-to-government collaboration to support infrastructure construction services in Makueni County.

NYS is a government training institution with proven expertise in road, building and dam construction, machine maintenance, borehole drilling and affordable machine hire.

This partnership aims at enhancing infrastructure development at reduced project costs.

The Governor was accompanied by CECMs Finance, Damaris Kavoi and Transport Eng. Peter Mumo. Also present was NYS Mechanical and Transport Branch Commanding Officer, Andrew Ekuss among others.

MAKUENI COUNTY INTENSIFIES GBV FIGHT WITH 2-DAY COMMUNITY SENSITISATION IN ILIMA WARD

Makueni’s Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has stepped up campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) aimed at eliminating gender inequalities and building safer communities.

On Friday, the department concluded a two-day sensitisation forum which brought together key stakeholders, community leaders, and anti-GBV champions as part of Makueni County’s broader strategy to strengthen GBV prevention, response, and coordination.

The forum was graced by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, CECM for Gender Sebastian Kyoni, MCA Bishop Jonathan Muthoka, and other officials. In her remarks, the Deputy Governor called on the community to take collective responsibility in ending GBV, while CECM Kyoni emphasized the need to shift mindsets and support survivors.

The forum focused on promoting cultural values of non-violence, respect, and solidarity. Key interventions included training anti-GBV champions, holding sensitisation forums, engaging men and youth, and offering legal and psychosocial support to survivors.

Participants took part in discussions, role plays, and survivor testimonies, enhancing community understanding of GBV issues.

HOPE FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AS MAKUENI FINALIZES PLANS FOR RESCUE CENTRE LAUNCH

Makueni’s Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, has completed the validation of key guidelines for the operationalization of the Makueni County Child Rescue Centre.

The centre, one of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s flagship social protection projects, aims to provide care and support to child victims and survivors of violence and abuse, as well as children living on or off the streets.

County Executive Committee Member Sebastian Kyoni, who presided over the validation exercise in Wote on Thursday, emphasized the county government’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of vulnerable children.

The validation of the guidelines—which outline intake procedures, rehabilitation, reintegration, and follow-up processes for children at the rescue centre—paves the way for the gazettement of the facility as an official Child Rescue Centre and its subsequent commissioning.

MAKUENI STORMS KYISA 2025 IN HOMA BAY WITH A BANG!

Makueni County has made an emphatic statement at the ongoing Kenya Youth Inter-county Sports Association (KYISA) games in Homa Bay, with her teams across multiple disciplines delivering impressive performances that have established them as serious title contenders.

The men’s football team set the tone early, pulling off a stunning 1-0 victory against defending champions Busia in their opening match. They followed this with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Wajir to comfortably secure a place in the quarterfinals.

Taking cue from their male counterparts, Makueni’s women footballers fought hard in their opening match to earn a 1-1 draw against neighboring Kitui before producing a commanding 2-0 victory over Kajiado that booked their spot in the semifinals.

On the basketball court, the women’s team provided one of the tournament’s most thrilling moments, edging Siaya 48-47 in a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire.

The men’s volleyball team also made their mark with a convincing 3-1 win against Nyeri, though the women’s volleyball team suffered a 3-0 setback against a strong Nandi side in their opener.

With multiple teams advancing deep into the knockout stages, Makueni County has firmly established itself as one of the teams to beat at this year’s KYISA games.

MAKUENI GEARS UP TO DOMINATE KYISA GAMES AGAIN AS CHAMPIONS EYE HOMA BAY GLORY!

Makueni County is on a mission to conquer once more! Fresh off their stunning triumph at last year’s Kenya Youth Inter-county Sports Association (KYISA) games in Malindi, the defending champions are charging into Homa Bay with fire in their hearts and victory on their minds.

In an electrifying flag-off ceremony on Friday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. handed the county flag to six teams—men and women primed for glory—as they prepare to battle for supremacy from April 13th to 19th.

“We are not just participating—we are defending our crown!” declared Governor Mutula, expressing confidence in the squads assembled from the just concluded MKJ Supa Cup.

Last year, Makueni left opponents in the dust, clinching gold in men’s volleyball and dominating women’s football. Now, with Homa Bay in their sights, the champions are hungry to prove their reign is no fluke.

OVER 1,700 MAKUENI YOUTH TO BENEFIT FROM WAZO INNOVATION PROGRAM

A total of 1,740 youth in Makueni County are set to benefit from Wazo, a youth empowerment program spearheaded by the National Government to tackle unemployment and nurture innovation among young people.

The Wazo initiative takes a comprehensive approach to sustainable development by equipping youth with entrepreneurial skills, supporting the growth of startups, and addressing key barriers such as high failure rates of youth-led businesses and lack of knowledge on patenting and intellectual property rights.

Speaking in Makueni on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs,Creative Economy, and Sports, Salim Mvurya, urged the youth to seize the opportunity to shape their future through innovation and enterprise.

He further added that each beneficiary will undergo a six-month intensive training and will receive a monthly stipend of K.sh 6,000 to support them during the period.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili echoed the sentiments, highlighting the county’s ongoing youth empowerment efforts including the Ujuzi Teketeke skills development program and sports initiatives.

MAKUENI TO BUILD ELITE SPORTS ACADEMY IN LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Champions Pathway Academy (CPA) and United States-based Angels at Bat to establish a world-class sports academy in Makueni. The facility will feature modern training infrastructure, aiming to nurture local talent and position the county as a regional and global sports hub.

Governor Mutula described the partnership as one that goes beyond sports, saying it is about equipping youth with leadership, education, and life skills. The initiative will offer professional coaching, international exposure, and mentorship.

CPA Chief Executive Officer Albert Munane emphasized the importance of investing in sports as a tool for discipline, while Angels at Bat’s Justus Musia noted the cultural exchange potential of the partnership.

Sports Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, Chief Officer Nicholis Mutua, sports director Ambrose Kisoi and senior sports officer Charles Muthoka attended the signing ceremony held at the governor’s office in Wote, Tuesday.

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.