Youth

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.

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 8^th and 9^th 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 15^th March, Mbooni and Kaiti will stage their finals while action in Kilome and Makueni will take place on 22^nd and 23^rd.

From the Supa Cup, each of the six sub-counties will select an all-star team for the county finals scheduled for 29^th and 30^th 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.