News

3400 RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE TITLE DEEDS

August 26, 2024

Over 3,400 landowners in Kaunguni and Kinyoo settlement schemes in Kibwezi-West Sub-County will soon secure their title deeds set to be issued next month.

This milestone follows a consultative meeting held in Nairobi on Monday between Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and Ministry of Lands Cabinet Secretary Hon. Alice Wahome .The discussions centered on the issuance of titles and other key land matters in Makueni County.

The county government is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Lands to expedite the adjudication process and the issuance of title deeds in all pending settlement schemes and sections such as Kai B, Kathekani B and Syumile among others.

It was also agreed that the erroneous land records for Malili and Aimi Ma Kilungu Ranches, currently housed in Machakos, be transferred to Makueni to ensure accuracy and accessibility.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Lands CECM Nicholas Nzioka and Chief Officer Jackson Daudi.

MAKUENI, TSAVO TRUST AGREE TO A JOINT MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN MTITO ANDEI.

Residents in Mtito Andei area are looking at better days free from attacks by wild animals after the County Government of Makueni signed a working partnership with Tsavo Trust, a wildlife conservator, to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

The partnership signed by Mutula Kilonzo Jr and @Tsavo Trust Chief Executive Officer Richard Moller on Friday entails joint implementation of projects that keep animals away from human settlements.

Some of the targeted projects include installation of electric fence in sections bordering wildlife corridors, provision of water for both wildlife and residents, establishment of health facilities and community education and participation in environmental conservation.

Governor Mutula said the efforts are geared towards permanently addressing the perennial cases of wild animals especially elephants straying into people’s homes and farmlands causing crop destruction and at times death and body injuries.

Mutula expressed optimism that the conflict if well managed, can metamorphose into a key economic pillar through tourism development.

Also in attendance was Makueni County Assembly Deputy Speaker and Mtito-Andei MCA Francis Mulwa.

PROCUREMENT REGULATOR LAUDS MAKUENI COUNTY FOR COMPLIANCE

August 23, 2024

The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Board has hailed Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for Makueni County’s outstanding adherence to public procurement standards.

Chairman Jimmy Kahindi and his board members, who visited Governor Kilonzo at his office in Wote, praised Makueni County as one of the leading procurement entities in the Country.

Kahindi disclosed that the regulator has been conducting visits to various counties to assess public procurement compliance, with previous visits to Tana River, Mombasa, and Isiolo Counties.

He raised concerns about significant procurement malpractices in some Counties and warned that the board will implement strict measures to ensure full legal compliance.

Governor Kilonzo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering quality services to the people of Makueni.

The Senate Committee on National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration recently acknowledged Makueni County for its exemplary leadership in public procurement compliance.

Finance County Executive Committee Member Damaris Kavoi, who was also present at the meeting, highlighted that in the 2023/24 Financial Year, the County Government had exceeded the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act’s requirement by allocating 40% of its annual procurement budget to local contractors, significantly surpassing the mandated 20%.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH PATH FOR BIOMEDICAL TRAINING TO ENHANCE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

Makueni County, in collaboration with PATH, is conducting a specialized training program for 16 biomedical engineering technologists at Makueni Referral Hospital.

The 5 day training which begun on Monday aimes at improving healthcare instrument management and ensuring the reliability of life-saving oxygen supply systems.

The program focuses on equipping participants with essential skills in handling, repairing, and maintaining critical medical equipment.

Chief officer Dr. Stephen Ndolo and Dr. Steven Mwatha were among those who graced the event.

MAKUENI COUNTY ROLLS OUT CATTLE INSURANCE PROJECT.

August 22, 2024

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock has launched a campaign to register 10,000 cattle farmers to be insured against losses occasioned by droughts.

The insurance project is co-funded by the county government and world bank under a programme dubbed De-risking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement (DRIVE). It targets 20 wards in the county.

Those insured will be paid Sh 16,000 per cattle head at the onset of a drought pandemic to mitigate the negative effects that may cause losses to the farmers.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday flagged off 50 community mobilizers to register the farmers for the first phase of the program in the month of September.

He said the project aims to commercialize livestock production and trade in Makueni.

GOVERNOR MUTULA WELCOMES CHINESE DELEGATION TO BOOST GREEN ENERGY AND INVESTMENT IN MAKUENI.

August 22, 2024

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday hosted a high-level delegation from China, visiting to learn about the county’s initiatives in promoting green energy and explore potential areas for collaboration and investment.

The delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with Governor Mutula and his team, focusing on innovative solutions for climate change, advancing social equity, enhancing financial literacy, and promoting economic empowerment, particularly for the youth and women.

The delegation toured the solarization project at the Makueni County Referral Hospital (MCRH), a flagship initiative in the county’s renewable energy efforts.

Governor Mutula urged the Chinese investors to consider Makueni as a strategic location for investment, with particular emphasis on the agricultural sector, which holds significant potential for growth.

The Governor was accompanied by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and several County Executive Committee Members, including Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, Dr. Sonia Nzilani, Damaris Kavoi, Eng. John Kieti, Joyce Mutua and Dr. Paul Musila.

INSPECTION OF WAREHOUSES TO IMPROVE STORAGE AND MARKET ACCESS IN MAKUENI.

{WOTE}Tuesday, August 20, 2024

The Ministry of Trade and Investment, through the Warehouse Receipt System Council-Kenya (WRS), is set to embark on a pre-inspection exercise of warehouses across Makueni County.

The initiative is designed to support local grain farmers by ensuring that storage facilities meet the necessary standards for accreditation.

The plan was discussed during a meeting held on Tuesday between WRS officials and Makueni County Executive Committee Members Dr. Sonia Nzilani (Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture, and Tourism) and Joyce Mutua (Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development).

The pre-inspection exercise will assess whether the warehouses are equipped to store grain under optimal conditions, a critical factor in securing WRS accreditation.

Dr. Sonia Nzilani said that establishing proper grain storage facilities is key to mitigating food security risks and stabilizing grain prices within the county.

The move is expected to significantly benefit local farmers by improving storage options and market access.

WRS officials are scheduled to inspect warehouses in several key locations, including Wote, Mukuyuni, Thange, Kibwezi, and Kilome.

In addition to the inspections, warehouse operators will receive training to enhance their understanding of storage requirements.

Warehouses that pass the inspection will receive accreditation certificates from the WRS Council. These accredited warehouses will then be authorized to issue legal documents to farmers, enabling them to use stored grain as collateral when seeking loans from financial institutions.

GOVERNOR MUTULA COMMISSIONS BOREHOLE IN WOTE

August 20, 2024

The Kenya Red Cross Society is set to launch a new partnership with the County Government of Makueni for a comprehensive project designed to improve the living standards of local residents. The initiative will address critical areas including health, water, sanitation (WASH) and food security.

The announcement was made by Dr. Ahmed Idris, Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society during a briefing with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. when he paid a courtesy call on him at his Wote office on Tuesday.

Dr. Idris observed that, despite a long-standing collaboration with the Makueni County Government, there are still critical gaps that need addressing. He noted that it has been long since the Red Cross undertook a major project in Makueni and expressed a strong commitment to reverse the trend.

Dr. Idris also pointed out concerns about the inadequate trauma care in local hospitals and offered to assist the County Government in building the capacity of medical personnel to better manage trauma cases.

Governor Kilonzo welcomed this proposal, emphasizing its timeliness, particularly in light of the frequent road accidents on the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway that have significantly impacted Makueni.

Later on, Governor Kilonzo, alongside Dr. Idris, commissioned a borehole rehabilitated by the County Government at the Red Cross offices in Wote. The borehole, which has a capacity of 3,000 litres per hour, will provide a reliable source of clean water for the Red Cross premises and nearby government offices, enhancing water accessibility for the local community.

The event was also attended by Devolution CECM, Japheth Mang’oka and Water Chief Officer, Eng. Julius Makau.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH PATH TO BOOST OXYGEN PLANT MAINTENANCE SKILLS

The Makueni Department of Health Services has collaborated with PATH to enhance the skills of biomedical engineering technologists across the county hospitals in operating and maintaining Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology.

This five-day intensive training program emphasizes the critical importance of occupational health and safety in oxygen plant setups.

It also equips participants with essential skills in operating and maintaining oxygen plants, including troubleshooting and repair procedures.

This initiative is part of the county’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and ensure the reliability of life-saving oxygen supply systems.

COMMUNITY CALLS FOR STRATEGIC WATER DISTRIBUTION TO ENHANCE ACCESS.

August 19, 2024

Residents of the Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba ward have called on the County Government to focus on extending water distribution from existing water points to more accessible locations, rather than creating new sources. This request was made during a public participation forum for the 2025/26 Annual Development Plan (ADP) held on Monday at AIC Matiliku Central.

Some of the proposed water distribution projects include Kilinga Water Spring, Kaiani Borehole, and Yanthooko Water Sump. These initiatives aim to improve access to water for both domestic and irrigation purposes within the ward.

The County Government continues to prioritize community input in its development planning, ensuring that decisions are responsive to the needs of residents. Public participation forums were conducted in all 30 wards across the county to capture and address the diverse needs of the community.

The public participation forum was graced by the Chief Officer for Socio-Economic Planning Boniface Mutua.