General

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has urged a targeted push to register over 54,000 eligible voters in the county.

Speaking at a stakeholder forum convened by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) at Wote Technical Training Institute, Mutula called for a data-driven approach to identify and reach unregistered voters. He questioned whether uncollected national IDs account for a large share of those yet to sign up and pressed for their issuance alongside registration drives.

He also emphasized the need to ease voter transfers during the ongoing exercise to improve access.

The forum brought together county government leadership, County assembly leadership, youth leaders, religious groups, civil society, media, community organisations and other key stakeholders.

Officials cited the Huduma Mashinani initiative,through which about 2,000 voters were registered,as an effective outreach model.

County Executive Committee Member Sebastian Kyoni said the county will work with youth groups, boda boda operators, and women’s organisations to scale up mobilisation.

Makueni Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu called for stronger media partnerships to boost awareness.

So far, 4,295 new voters have been registered, far short of the 54,581 target.

On 12th December 2025, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. flagged off the Huduma Mashinani outreach programme, an initiative aimed at decentralizing essential government services to the grassroots.

The programme enabled residents to access key services, including ID registration, voter registration, and issuance of birth and death certificates, alongside 23 other government services, reducing the need for long-distance travel and promoting inclusive access.

Over the three-month period, a total of 76,300 residents across all 30 wards in Makueni County were served, demonstrating strong uptake and impact at the community level.

Speaking during the closing event in Mukaa Ward on Thursday, CECM for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, commended residents for their turnout and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to improved service delivery.

He announced that Phase II of Huduma Mashinani will be rolled out soon, with a focus on expanding reach and enhancing efficiency.

Dr. Annah Kyoya has been sworn in as chairperson of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) following her successful vetting and approval by the Makueni County Assembly.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. witnessed the swearing-in ceremony, administered by the County Attorney, and urged Dr Kyoya to discharge her duties diligently.

The governor said the county’s priority is to boost economic empowerment while increasing household incomes among Makueni residents. He revealed that the county has already secured Sh160 million for the fund, with additional resources expected through partnerships aimed at strengthening its impact.

MCEF remains a key economic pillar in the county, structured as a revolving fund that provides sustainably affordable, interest-free credit to residents, particularly those running micro and small enterprises.

Dr Kyoya, who will chair the MCEF Committee, is expected to supervise the fund’s operations and spearhead efforts to grow its capital base through stakeholder engagement.

Speaking after taking the oath of office, Dr Kyoya thanked the county government for entrusting her with the role, terming it a noble mandate.

The swearing-in ceremony was also attended by County Executive Committee Members: Japheth Mang’oka, Joyce Mutua, and Eng. Sebastian Kyoni.

Established in 2015 under the Public Finance Management Act, the fund has undergone several reviews of its guidelines and regulations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

MCEF is currently anchored under the Makueni County Social Protection Act, 2025, and the MCEF Regulations, 2025. It is wholly owned by the County Government of Makueni and domiciled within the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services.

The fund’s mandate includes providing access to capital and financing facilities to micro and small enterprises owned by marginalized groups—youth, women, men, and persons with disabilities—facilitating investment in small businesses, and advancing loans to village savings and loan associations across the county.

The Government of Makueni County has intensified its response as heavy rains continue to pound the region.

During a visit to Kitende Village in Kilungu Ward, Kaiti Sub County, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili urged residents living in landslide-prone areas to relocate to safer evacuation centres, including St. Theresa Comprehensive School.

Her visit followed a deadly mudslide that killed two siblings and injured several others.

Working alongside the Kenya Red Cross Society, the county government distributed essential relief supplies, including food, bedding, mattresses, and tents, to affected families.

County Executive Committee Member for Devolution Nicholas Nzioka and Kaiti Constituency Member of Parliament Joshua Kimilu also attended the exercise and provided additional support.

Authorities have confirmed that at least 16 people have died as a result of the ongoing heavy rains.

Officials continue to urge residents to remain vigilant and move to designated safe areas where necessary.

Residents of Masongaleni Ward on Thursday turned up at Kavatini Market to access essential government services under the Huduma Mashinani Programme, as the County Government of Makueni continued to take services closer to the people.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili lauded the programme as a transformative initiative that enhances access to services at the grassroots, noting that its success is driven by strong synergy between the county government, the County Commissioner’s Office and the national government. She affirmed that the programme will be conducted annually to ensure more residents benefit from the vital services.

In the same occasion, the county government extended support to local churches through the distribution of 855 plastic chairs to 43 churches across the ward. The initiative aimed at strengthening community and worship activities.

Area MCA Brian Nzoka thanked Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for prioritizing service delivery at the grassroots, noting that the initiative has made it easier for residents to access important government services within their locality.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday evening joined the Makueni Muslim community for evening prayers and iftar at Wote Jamia Mosque. He used the occasion to engage directly with residents and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges they face.

During the visit, the Governor pledged to address key concerns, particularly issues surrounding land ownership and the issuance of title deeds. He reaffirmed that the Muslim community is an integral part of Makueni County and encouraged members to actively participate in civic and development matters, emphasizing their equal rights as residents.

Mutula also called on Muslim leaders to continue championing peace, cautioning against recent regrettable remarks made by some national leaders.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday graced the ongoing Huduma Mashinani outreach program in Kyambeke Ilima Ward, gaining first-hand experience and a deeper understanding of its impact on local residents. The program has already directly benefited over 70,000 people across 26 wards.

The Governor underscored the outreach’s benefits to residents, noting that it has resolved deep-rooted and long-standing challenges that had previously prevented many community members from accessing essential services such as title deeds and national identity cards.

Residents of Kalawa turned up in good numbers to benefit from the ongoing Huduma Mashinani Outreach Programme by the County Government of Makueni, which continues to decentralize essential government services to the grassroots.

During the exercise, 1,429 residents accessed various services including civil registration, identification documents processing, and other government services normally offered at Huduma Centres. The initiative is part of the county’s broader effort to ensure residents conveniently obtain critical services within their localities.

The Huduma Mashinani Programme continues to move across wards in the county, enabling residents to access services closer to home while strengthening efficient and inclusive public service delivery.

Governor Mutula has called for the active involvement of local communities in decisions regarding logging in Makueni County.

His remarks follow a recent motion by the Makueni County Assembly to immediately freeze all commercial and large‑scale logging activities in public forests within the county.

Speaking in Winzeni, Mbooni Ward, while condoling with the family of Josephine Musyoki, Governor Mutula also announced that the county government has allocated KSh 20 million to equip the newly completed Mbooni Emergency and Family Hospital.

A total of 3,008 residents of Kathonzweni Ward on Thursday accessed vital government services during the Huduma Mashinani outreach held at Mbuvo Market.

This brings to 66,000 the number of residents who have benefitted from the program across 24 wards, as the Government of Makueni County continues to devolve service delivery closer to the grassroots.

The exercise was graced by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and Huduma Kenya Chief Executive Officer CPA Benjamin Chilumo, underscoring the strong partnership between the County Government of Makueni and Huduma Kenya in enhancing grassroots service delivery.

The two leaders committed to further strengthen the program through increased financial, material, and human resource allocation to ensure more residents benefit. They also noted that additional services will be introduced to complement the 23 services currently offered under the program.

Also present were CECM for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu, and Kathonzweni Ward MCA Kennedy Maneno.