General

The Makueni County Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday joined female inmates at Makueni Remand Prison to mark International Women’s Day ahead of the global celebrations on Sunday.

During the visit, she presented gifts including essential commodities to the inmates and commended the institution for nurturing talent and empowering women as they reform.

The deputy governor noted that this year’s theme, “Give To Gain,” calls for deliberate efforts by governments, institutions and individuals to advance gender equality.

She also raised concern over rising suicide cases and urged residents to seek cancelling when facing mental health challenges.

She was accompanied by Makueni County Chief of Staff Mercy Kinyi.

More than 1,000 residents benefited as the Huduma Mashinani Outreach Programme continued in Muvau/Kikumini Ward, bringing essential government services closer to the residents at Kwa Kathoka ATC grounds. The initiative by the County Government of Makueni in partnership with Huduma Kenya enabled residents to access key services including ID applications, birth and death certificates, SHA registration, HELB services, police abstracts and other government services at the grassroots. A total of 1,062 residents were served during the outreach.

Speaking during the exercise, Chief Officer for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Nicholis Mutua urged residents to fully utilize such opportunities whenever they are brought closer to the community, noting that the programme is designed to ensure they access government services conveniently without travelling long distances.

Area MCA Kawembe Mutinda who was present during the outreach lauded the initiative, saying it has eased access to vital services.

Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday evening condoled with the family of 27-year-old Felix Kimweli Muinde, who drowned at Kimanga Stream in Thange Ward, Kibwezi East.

The governor visited the bereaved family at Muthungue Village, describing the incident as a painful loss to the community. Muinde will be buried on Friday, March 6.

During the visit, Mutula urged young people to unite, support their parents and take advantage of the county’s 30 per cent procurement budget reserved for youth, women and persons with disabilities.

He challenged them to be industrious and creative in order to generate their own employment opportunities.

The governor was accompanied by County Executive Committee Member for Finance Damaris Kavoi and Thange MCA Erick Katumo.

The County Government of Makueni on Wednesday resumed the Huduma Mashinani Outreach Programme following a short break to allow for public participation engagement.

The programme kicked off in Tulimani Ward at Kalawani CTTI Grounds, bringing together national and county government services closer to residents. The outreach, organized in collaboration with Huduma Kenya, aims to enhance access to essential government services at the grassroots level.

A total of 2,101 residents were served during the Tulimani outreach, accessing a wide range of services including ID applications and replacements, birth and death certificates processing, KRA PIN registration and tax compliance, driving license renewal, SHA registration, NSSF services, HELB applications, police abstracts, Certificate of Good Conduct processing, voter registration, land rates payments, liquor licensing, and other critical public services.

CECM for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Eng. Sebastian Kyoni noted that since the start of the programme, more than 50,000 residents in 19 Wards have been served across the county. The exercise targets to reach over 80,000 residents.

Nthunguni Market came alive on Wednesday as more than 1,600 residents accessed government services during the Huduma Mashinani outreach in Mtito Andei Ward.

The exercise brought essential services directly to the community, including free affidavit services introduced for the first time to ease access to critical documentation.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, said the programme has now covered 16 wards, underscoring the county government’s drive to take services closer to the people.

Area MCA Francis Mulwa praised the initiative, noting that it spared residents long journeys to government offices and delivered timely services at the grassroots.

The Huduma Mashinani outreach programme on Tuesday served 2,199 residents at Kitundu Market, delivering essential government services closer to the community.

Residents accessed services including KRA registration and tax compliance, NSSF services, National ID processing, SHA registration, and NTSA services. The exercise drew a strong turnout as residents took advantage of the on-site support.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, urged residents to continue turning up in large numbers to benefit from the programme.

County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa said the outreach addressed long-standing documentation challenges faced by many residents, particularly those arising after the loss of loved ones. She cited issues such as replacement of lost identity cards and official searches, noting that the programme provided timely solutions to help residents regularize their documentation and secure their right

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has called for a stronger culture of rewards and sanctions in the workplace, saying exceptional performance-especially work done beyond official mandates-should count toward promotions and recognition.

Speaking during an awards ceremony honoring public participation officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other teams, the governor praised Makueni County’s top-performing units for elevating the county’s profile locally and internationally.

He singled out the Makueni County Fire Brigade for winning four consecutive trophies at the Annual Africa Fire Mission Kenya Symposium and competitions, describing the team as a model of discipline, innovation, and dedication.

Governor Mutula also raised concern over volunteers within the county government who have delivered stellar service without formal recognition. He challenged the Makueni Public Service Board to absorb such volunteers and formally recognize their contribution to public service.

The governor urged award-winning teams to leverage their success to build partnerships that enhance productivity, including seeking international collaborations and serving as ambassadors for Makueni County.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili echoed the governor’s sentiments, commending the fire brigade for consistently putting Makueni on the map year after year.

Makueni Public Service Board Chairperson Benjamin Kioko Kasamba announced plans to develop a policy to guide recognition of officers who excel in duties outside their job descriptions.

The teams used the occasion to present to the Governor trophies won in various categories during previous competitions.

During the ceremony, 19 Civic Education coordinators were promoted, while 36 officers received training certificates in environmental and social safeguards, occupational health, climate change, and disaster risk mainstreaming in project management.

The Huduma Mashinani outreach programme on Friday recorded a significant milestone in Kibwezi Town, where 1,425 residents were served, with many leaving the venue with their birth certificates issued the same day. The exercise also attracted a large number of young people seeking national IDs and voter registration services, highlighting growing youth participation in civic processes.

The same-day processing of birth certificates marked the first for the Huduma Mashinani programme, made possible through the dedication of the Kibwezi Office of Births and Deaths, which ensured efficient service delivery throughout the day. Residents expressed satisfaction with the convenience of accessing multiple government services under one roof.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, reaffirmed the County Government’s commitment to taking Huduma Mashinani services to every ward to ensure no resident is left behind.

The Huduma Mashinani outreach programme on Tuesday reached Kithumani Market in Mbitini Ward, where 2,001 residents accessed essential government services. The exercise attracted a strong turnout as residents took advantage of services brought closer to them.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, said the team provided government documents to residents, noting that the Ward marked the 11th to be reached since the programme began. He noted that nearly 20,000 people have benefited so far and urged the youth to continue applying for national IDs and registering as voters.

Those who attended the function included Mbitini Ward MCA, Bernard Mutua and Huduma Centre Makueni Manager, Bernard Nicholas.

The Huduma Mashinani Programme on Friday reached Kasikeu Market in Kasikeu Ward, Kilome Sub-County, where 2,334 residents accessed essential government services.

Over the week, the programme recorded a total of 8,404 residents served with different services at Machinery Market, Matiliku, Nguu, and Kasikeu.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, said the team delivered 23 different services, noting that title deeds for Kasikeu residents were also issued during the Friday exercise.

Kasikeu Ward MCA Reuben Kavai said residents had turned up in large numbers, demonstrating the importance of the services, and lauded Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr for spearheading the program.

Huduma Kenya Makueni Manager Bernard Nicholas advised those referred to other service points to prepare their documents in advance to ensure smooth service delivery wherever the programme reaches next.