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MAKUENI IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VILLAGE ENTERPRISE DRAFTS POLICY TO EMPOWER ULTRA-POOR RESIDENTS

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services through the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) has concluded public participation on the Ultra Poor Graduation Policy, aimed at mobilizing resources to support extremely poor residents in building sustainable livelihoods.

This comprehensive framework provides a range of interventions designed to help the ultra-poor transition from severe social and financial exclusion to self-sufficient socio-economic participation. The Ultra Poor Graduation Policy combines immediate support to meet participants’ urgent needs with long-term investments in life skills and technical training, asset transfers, enterprise development, savings, and future planning.

Supported by Village Enterprise, the overarching goal of this policy is to empower financially excluded individuals to gain the capacity for financial borrowing from the Makueni County Empowerment Fund and other financial institutions, ultimately fostering sustainable livelihoods for ultra-poor families.

REVENUE OFFICERS COMMENDED FOR REACHING KSH. 1 BILLION TARGET

Financial Services ECM Damaris Kavoi has praised revenue officers for achieving the Ksh. 1 billion own-source collection target in the 2023/2024 financial year.

Speaking at ACK Salama, Kavoi met with the officers and pledged to offer more training and improve their welfare. She attributed the achievement to enhanced client relations, which made revenue collection more humane. Kavoi also expressed gratitude to the citizens of Makueni for willingly paying their taxes and fees.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. had earlier acknowledged the contributions of the business community to this success. As a gesture of appreciation, he granted them a one-day tax amnesty on Friday, July 5th.

MAKUENI TO PILOT THE NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND BREEDING PROGRAM

Makueni County has been selected by the National Government to pioneer the National Animal Health and Breeding Program, Agriculture and Livestock Executive Committee Member Joyce Mutua has announced.

 The initiative, a nationwide effort, aims to bolster livestock health through extensive vaccination drives and the promotion of superior breeding practices.

Mutua said Makueni’s selection was due to its outstanding record in conducting annual vaccination campaigns, integral to its broader strategy of combating livestock diseases.

Once the breeding quality is enhanced, the county plans to shield livestock from adverse weather conditions by providing insurance coverage.

Mutua spoke on Thursday during the launch of this year’s livestock vaccination program in Nguu Masumba Ward, Kibwezi-West Sub-county.

This year’s vaccination schedule will focus on protecting cattle from Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, and Rift Valley fever, while goats will be safeguarded against Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia. Poultry will also receive vaccinations against NewCastle Disease.

The vaccination program will span 485 vaccination sites, targeting over 15,000 households, with the overarching objective of eradicating priority livestock diseases within the county.

Dr. Daniel Ksee, the County Veterinary Officer present at the event, reported that Makueni has successfully vaccinated more than 400,000 livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats, over the past three years.

MAKUENI COUNTY WELCOMES 125 INTERNS FOR SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM

Makueni County has hired 125 interns to equip them with specialized skills in their respective fields. These interns will be immediately placed across various county departments to hone their skills and prepare for future career opportunities.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, speaking at the inauguration event held at Green Park on Wednesday, highlighted that the interns will spend the next year working in Makueni. She emphasized that this period is a prime opportunity for them to refine their skills and uncover their talents.

Mulili urged the interns to remain dedicated and take their training seriously, noting that they will receive a monthly stipend of 15,000 Ksh. to support their upkeep during their tenure. She also stressed the importance of developing strong communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate effective interaction with supervisors and peers across the 16 departments where they will be deployed.

Elizabeth Muli, the County Executive Committee Member in charge of ICT, Education, and Internship, encouraged the interns to embrace the learning process. She pointed out that every challenge presents a chance to learn and grow, urging the young trainees to take initiative and demonstrate enthusiasm in their tasks.

Muli assured the interns that the government would provide support and guidance, helping them gain valuable experience in their areas of specialization, which will be crucial in securing employment after the internship period.

The event was also attended by several dignitaries, including MCAs Jonathan Muthoka (Ilima Ward) and Sarah Mbilo (Nominated), Peter Mumo, ECM for Gender, Sternly Nthiw’a, County Attorney, and Chief Officers Irene Makau (Education), Alfonce Kanunga (ICT), and Bonface Mutua (Planning), among other officials, who shared words of wisdom and encouragement with the aspiring professionals.

MAKUENI, AFA LAUNCH WORKSHOP ON COFFEE REGULATIONS TO ENHANCE SECTOR GROWTH

The County Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), held a sensitization workshop on the Coffee Regulations 2019 on Wednesday as part of broader strategy to rejuvenate the coffee sector in Makueni, aiming to enhance the livelihoods of coffee farmers and contribute to the county’s economic growth.

The workshop targeted selected extension officers and members of the Kikima Cooperative Society board. The training aimed to acquaint them with the regulations and emphasized the importance of the new regulations in improving coffee quality and production efficiency.

The partners discussed various aspects of the regulation framework including standards for cultivation, processing, and marketing of coffee. The regulations also cover the rights and responsibilities of farmers, cooperative societies, and other stakeholders in the coffee industry.

The extension officers and cooperative society members will disseminate the knowledge gained to farmers, to ensure widespread compliance and benefit. As the sensitization program rolls out across the. coffee growing areas in Makueni, it is expected to boost farmers’ productivity and profitability.

The workshop, held in Kikima, was graced by Livestock and Cooperative Development Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza and County Director of Agriculture Mary Muteti.

CLIMATE CHANGE STEERING COMMITTEE INDUCTED ON RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

The newly appointed Makueni County Climate Change Steering Committee has completed a two-day induction on climate change management.

The induction, conducted by officers from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry- Directorate of Climate Change and County Government, focused on policy frameworks, climate change financing mechanisms, and the different stakeholders in the national and international climate change space. The committee also learned about developing simplified climate change resilience initiatives that wananchi can identify with.

Additionally, the committee was briefed on the five-year Makueni County Climate Change Action Plan (2023-2027), which will guide fundraising for climate action.

The committee now faces the crucial task of developing bankable climate change financing proposals and mobilizing resources to finance locally-led climate actions in the county.

GOVERNOR MUTULA ISSUES 179 ALLOTMENT LETTERS TO KIKIMA PLOT OWNERS

Governor Mutula Kilozno Jr has issued letters of allotment to 179 plot owners of Kikima town, Mbooni Sub-county, in an endeavor to improve security of land tenure.

This is geared towards solving land ownership wrangles which have plagued the county for years, slowing down development.

The county government has prioritized resolution of all these disputes by collaborating with the National Ministry for Lands in planning and titling 157 parcels in Emali, 349 parcels in Kibwezi, and 410 parcels in Makindu. Allotment letters for 104 parcels in Nunguni town, Kaiti, are also ready for issuance.

According to the Lands Executive Committee Member Nicholas Nzioka, the county government is working closely with the National Land Commission to fast-track adjudication and issuance of title deeds in all pending settlement schemes and sections, namely Ngai, Mang’elete, Muthingiini, Ngaindethya, Kyamuoso, Kiboko A&C, Utithi, and Kathyaka.

The county government is also running land clinics where residents are helped to fill affidavits and prosecute estate succession for faster processing of title deeds.

GOVERNOR MUTULA PLEDGES KSH 46M FOR MBOONI FAMILY HOSPITAL COMPLETION

Governor Mutula Pledges KSh 46M for Mbooni Family Hospital Completion

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has pledged to complete the Mbooni Sub-county Hospital Isolation Centre and convert it into a family hospital, aiming to serve a broader population.

An allocation of KSh 46 million has been set aside in the 2024/2025 Financial Year to finalize and equip the facility. The hospital will include a Mother and Child unit, laboratory, ultra-modern theatre, casualty wing, and clinical rooms.

Once completed, the family hospital will cater to a catchment area of 31,000 residents, with the capacity to serve 200 patients per day.

He spoke during a tour of the hospital to commission new X-ray equipment.

MAKUENI COUNTY LAUNCHES INTEGRATED HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

Makueni County has unveiled a digital health management information system which replaces the outdated manual and inefficient processes.

Dubbed #AfyaMakueni, the system will interconnect all healthcare facilities in the county, ensuring a seamless flow of information to enhance patient care, streamline operations, and boost overall efficiency.

Once fully implemented, the centralized system will eliminate the need for patients to register multiple times across different facilities. For instance, a patient registered in Mtito Andei will not need to register again at Makueni County Referral Hospital (MCRH) or any other facility.

The system will provide comprehensive data of patient histories, including previous treatments, medications, and allergies, aiding in better diagnosis and treatment plans.

Additionally, the system will facilitate inter-facility borrowing of healthcare commodities, further enhancing resource utilization and service delivery across the county.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr who launched the system at the Makueni Referral Hospital described #AfyaMakueni as a ground-breaking innovation aimed at revolutionizing healthcare management and delivery in the county. He underscored the system’s usefulness in enhancing accountability in the use of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical services provided by county facilities.

BUSINESS OWNERS IN MAKUENI COUNTY CAN NOW PAY FOR THEIR SINGLE BUSINESS PERMITS AND HEALTH LICENSES IN INSTALMENTS, WITH OPTIONS FOR QUARTERLY, HALF-YEARLY, OR ANNUAL PAYMENTS.

Business owners in Makueni County will now have the option to pay for their permits in instalments quarterly, half yearly or annually for single business permits and health Licenses.

At a public participation exercise to discuss the Proposed Makueni Finance Bill 2024 in Wote town, attended by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, the county also said traders who pay for their permits in a lumpsum annually will get discounts.

Small businesses will get 10% discount of the unified invoice bill, medium businesses will get a10% discount of the unified invoice bill while large Businesses will get 5% discount of the unified invoice bill.

The county also retained the 2023 charges and fees for the following sectors; Boda boda: Kshs. 500 annual sticker, market entrance fees remains as currently charged at Kshs 40, 50, 80, 100 and 200, hawking fees remain as currently charged at Kshs 40 while there will be no impounding and confiscation of goods.

The County will also take steps to stop tax evasion to ensure that fees and levies are not hiked. The event was attended by Deputy Governor, Lucy Mulili, area MCA Felix Mateso, CECMs Damaris Kavoi, Finance, Japheth Mangoka, Devolution, Sebastian Kyoni, Roads and Nicholas Nzioka, Lands, among others.