Makueni county fire and rescue brigade has been feted top nationally beating other Counties, parastatals among other entities.
The team under the Directorate of Special Programmes and Emergency services braised stiff competition from 22 counties and big organizations such as Kenya Airports Authority, and G4S, among others to emerge top while Isiolo ranked second and Kenya Airport Authority third respectively.
The concluded Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) competition was held at Kenya airport Authority Training School, Nairobi.
The county also produced the best Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Erick Muli, a paramedic based in Matiliku Sub County Hospital.
Muli beat 10 other EMT paramedics for institutions such as Red Cross, Avenue Health rescue, Komarock modern hospital, Mary hill, and Bristol Park among others.
The symposium themed, “Towards growing effective and efficient emergency rescue and response teams 2022” covered fire service leadership, community fire safety, tactical firefighting, emergency medical service, and fire engine operation where the Makueni team thrived in showcasing their prowess.
The symposium attracted over 300 fire emergency and rescue practitioners, the Kenya Council of Emergency Medical Technicians, the Chief fire mission, and other partners.
The competition was organized in partnership between the Africa Fire Mission, Polish Center for International Aid, Kenya Medical Care Technician (KMCT), and Kenya National Fire Brigade Association (KENFIBA).
According to the County Chief Fire Officer Urbanus Kioko Kyalo, Makueni has had intensive training by the Polish Center for International Aid on fire emergency rescue through an MOU signed between the organization and Makueni in 2020.
Through the MOU, the Polish Center for International Aid has donated state-of-the-art firefighting equipment, a road traffic accident vehicle as well as the establishment of a fire fighting station at Makindu along Mombasa Nairobi highway.
Mr. Kyalo noted that the Makueni fire and rescue brigade was awarded a trophy, a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitating Monitor to aid in emergency medical services, two complete sets of trauma bags, and cash prizes.
“In the past 4 years we have been able to respond and attend to 198 fire incidents and also road traffic accidents mostly along the Mombasa Nairobi highway involving vehicles ferrying petroleum products,” said Mr. Kyalo.
The team has also rescued a number of newborn babies thrown into deep pit latrines.
The team had time with the Governor during a firefighting drill within the County headquarters with the Governor maintaining that the team needed more resources to enable them to respond to various disasters.
“This is a commendable job done by our team, we must enhance our disaster response preparedness to avoid loss of lives and property,” he said.
A journey that slowly began in 2013 through a senatorial by-election following the passing on of pioneer Senator Mutula Kilonzo Snr has today blossomed into the most coveted county job.
H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has taken over the mantle of leadership as the second governor of the great county of Makueni. H.E Lucy Mulili was also inaugurated as the second deputy governor.
“This is a momentous journey that began in 2013 when I accidentally ventured into politics after the death of my father. Since then, the people of Makueni have walked all the way with me, first as senator for two terms and now as governor,” said the new county boss.
Accompanied by family, relatives, friends and thousands of residents, Kilonzo Jnr was sworn in at Unoa grounds Wote in a ceremony presided over by Hon. Justice Robert Limo.
The event was also graced by Wiper Party Leader H.E Kalonzo Musyoka , outgoing governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, Senator-Elect Daniel Maanzo, County MP-Elect Rose Museo, Makueni MP-Elect Suzanne Kiamba, outgoing Makueni Assembly Speaker Hon. Douglas Mbilu, members of the county assembly elect, among other leaders.
This is to notify the public that pursuant to the Assumption of Office of Governor Act 2019, the inauguration and swearing in ceremony of the Makueni County Governor-elect H.E Mutula Kilonzo CBS and the Deputy Governor-elect H.E Lucy Mulili, will be held on Thursday 25th August 2022 from 10:00am at the Unoa Grounds, Wote Town. Guests and members of the public are requested to be seated by 9:30am.
At exactly 00:00hrs, Tuesday 01.01.2019, fireworks rent the air from Unoa grounds, Wote, to usher in the new year 2019 and bring down the curtains on the year 2018.
At hand to witness this showpiece were more than 5,000 residents of Makueni led by governor Kivutha Kibwana, MPs Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), Erastus Kivasu (Mbooni) and Joshua Kimilu (Kaiti) and speaker Douglas Mbilu.
At exactly 23:58 pm on 31st December 2018, every activity came to a standstill while governor Kibwana led the residents to a count down of the ticking seconds to the new year, culminating to a blast of fireworks at the strike of midnight and crossing to the new year.
The sky above momentarily turned to a constellation as excited onlookers fixated their eyes to it to enjoy the unprecedented thrill.
The fireworks display was preceded by gospel music performances by renown and upcoming artists among them 10-year-old Shukrani Waeni, a resident of Wote.
The fireworks sensation was immediately followed by hugs, hi5s and frenzied dancing as the artists took the stage for live performances.
Some of the artists who graced the occasion include among others Mercy Masika, Stephen Kasolo, Wilberforce Musyoka, Janet Otieno, Purity Kateiko and Victor Mbuvi of the Kwata Kawaya fame.
The clergy, led by ABC Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki and Bishop Titus Masika led the congregation in an interdenominational prayers for the county’s prosperity in the year 2019.
On his twitter handle, governor Kibwana exclaimed, “What a moment! I’m extremely excited to usher in the new year 2019 in praise and prayer with fellow county residents at Wote. 2019 is a year full of hope for all of us.”
He told the residents to continue working hard and to protect the good name of the county which has been earned through visible development milestones, a result of combined efforts by the leadership and the residents.
Kibwana pledged to steer the county to even higher development heights through a united leadership.
The event, dubbed #SifaBlast, was organised by the County government in partnership with gospel artist Mercy Masika Foundation.
The Makueni county choir was crowned overall winners in the 92nd edition of the Kenya Music and Cultural Festival held in Meru after making its first appearance at the national level.
The county choir, which had registered in two categories for presentation took the lead with the song “Ain’t That Good News,” of class 435 Negro Spiritual category, beating other several county choirs competing in the class.
According to the gender, children, culture and social services executive member Dr Godfrey Makau who had accompanied the team during the festivals, it was a big surprise for the choir to emerge winners owing to the fact that it had just made its first entry for the competitions.
“Amazingly, the choir appeared for the first time at the national level during the 2018 Music and cultural festival and emerged overall winners. It was a big surprise to all of us!” Dr Makau exclaimed.
However, the win didn’t come easy, according to Pius Mutinda who is the vice- secretary, Eastern Regional Music Festival and one of the choir trainers, adding that the members sacrificed their time to perfect the items for the competition.
He said: “The group, as young as it is, was able to register a superb performance. However, they sacrificed their time to polish and compete favorably, which they did.”
The 92nd edition of the national festival, which ran from November 23 to 29, attracted over 30,000 participants from across the country.
The group, established in July this year has 42 members comprising of county staff and members of the public drawn from various wards across the county.
The county director alcoholic drinks control, Joseph Katumo who is also the second trainer said that the team was formed to among others nurture talents in arts, sensitize the public about the government programs, create awareness on social issues within and without the county and promote national and county cohesion through diverse cultural practices, sentiments which were echoed by Dr Makau.
The choir has since received several invitations to perform in various events, and was applauded by the Country First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for its awesome presentation when she graced the official commissioning of the county Mother and Child Hospital in Wote.
The county government is set to officially commission the choir during the county prayer and thanksgiving ceremony to be held on 31st this month, an event which will be graced by governor Kivutha Kibwana.