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MAKUENI KICKS OFF PLANS TO ESTABLISH TOURISM ASSOCIATION

Makueni’s tourism directorate has set the ball rolling towards establishment of a Tourism Association to unite stakeholders and market the county as a top tourists destination. It will be modeled after the Kenya Coast Tourism Association.

During a stakeholder sensitization forum on Thursday, an interim committee was put in place to oversee the registration process and recruit more members.

The forum was led by Dr. Josselyn Nzilani, Chief Officer of Trade, Industry, Marketing, Culture, and Tourism, and attended by representatives from the Kenya Tourism Board, Tourism Regulatory Authority, and other industry players.

MAKUENI HANDS OVER SITES FOR ESP MARKETS

Makueni County has handed over three sites for construction of ultra-modern markets under the Multi-million Economic Stimulus Program (ESP), a partnership between the national government and county governments.

The sites handed over on Wednesday to contractors procured by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development are Makindu ( Kibwezi West) and Kikima (Mbooni). Kasikeu site in Kilome was handed over on Tuesday by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili.

The Ksh 50M each markets are meant to spur rural economic growth by promoting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

Each market will accomodate 200 traders. Some of their essential componets are lactating rooms, cold storage rooms, SACCO offices, an ICT hub, ATM booths, a social hall, and a kitchen.

PRESIDENT RUTO TO LAUNCH THE AGRIPRENEUR MODEL 

May 30, 2024

A group of 126 agripreneurs from Makueni have kicked off 2-day induction training at Kibabii University in Bungoma, in preparation for their official deployment by President William Ruto during the upcoming Madaraka Day Celebrations.

The agripreneurs were competitively selected from 20 wards implementing the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) in Makueni County. They are part of a broader cohort of 6,600 agripreneurs drawn from 33 counties participating in the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

For the next 18 months, they will work through NAVCDP to guide farmers on best agricultural practices, pest management, and irrigation techniques. They will also connect farmers with suppliers for quality inputs and link them to markets to secure fair prices. 

The agripreneurs will assist farmers in accessing financial services, support loan applications, and connect them with providers of farm and mechanization services.

The agriprenuer model will  regularly track progress, provide feedback for improvement, and maintain accurate records to inform decision-making and planning.

1,500 PUPILS IN MAKUENI BENEFIT FROM DIGNITY PACKS.

Atleast 1,500 school going children from 15 schools in Makueni have been assured of uninterrupted learnig after receiving dignity packs during the Menstrual Hygiene Day on Tuesday.

The dignity packs targeting mostly teenage girls are meant to ensure no child misses school because of a biological condition. Those in marginalized areas, opharns, Children with chronically ill parents and children with a traumatic past will be given priority.

County First Lady Anita Mutula presided over the event at Kiongwani Primary School. The program is spearheaded by the Department of Health Services in conjuction with that of Gender, Children, Youth and Social Services.

FIRST LADY ANITA MUTULA FLAGS OFF SOCIAL PROTECTION SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

County First Lady Makueni – Anita Mutula in partnership with the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services have flagged off social protection support for vulnerable groups in Makueni County.

The social support in form of wheelchairs, food items, blankets, mattresses and dignity packs for boys and girls is meant to cushion the elderly, people living with disabilities and opharned & vulnerable children against social and economic life shocks.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender Eng. Peter Mumo said the social protection program is geared towards ensuring a life of dignity and opportunity for all residents of Makueni. The department, he said, recognizes that social and economic vulnerabilities can prevent individuals and families from reaching their full potential.

Makueni has a population of 36,369 PWDs, 66,691 elderly persons, and over 65,000 OVC where only 23,716 are under cash transfer.

KWAKYAI VALUE ADDITION TECHNOLOGY STANDS OUT AT THE PRE-MADARAKA FOOD SECURITY EXHIBITION

May 28, 2024

Kwakyai Rural Sacco Limited from Kikumbulyu South is among the over 300 exhibitors showcasing their agricultural technologies at the ongoing Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition at Kibabii University in Bungoma County.

Kwakyai was registered as a Sacco in 2002 with the aim of producing, aggregating, and marketing fruits and vegetables. 

However, they faced significant post-harvest losses due to market instability, prompting them to explore value addition. They decided to focus on drying tomatoes.

In 2017, 110 farmers signed a contract with Ketchup, a  Netherlands based company , to supply 10 tons of produce per week. The farmers received a grant of Ksh. 6 million from the Makueni County NARIGP to upgrade their pack house to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards, enabling compliance with export market standards.

This contract has provided the farmers with stable market prices and increased incomes. In 2023, they achieved gross sales of Ksh. 2.7 million from exported tomatoes.

As the Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition continues, various agricultural stakeholders are advocating for a paradigm shift from traditional agriculture to agribusiness and commercialization. Today’s discussions focus on interventions to enhance agricultural production, productivity, and value addition.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH KITISE RURAL DEVELOPMENT CBO FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE BUILDING.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior and his deputy Lucy Mulili on Monday hosted members of Kitise Rural Development, a community based organisation to review its activities in Makueni county.

Kitise Rural Development has been a catalyst for social change, with the aim of improving livelihoods of Makueni residents through provision of access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare services and youth empowerment.

The CBO engages in sustainable livelihood programs including pasture and milk value chain development producing processed yoghurt named Climate Fresh which is in the market.

The CBO has also been instrumental in undertaking capacity building of communities for effective public participation, community-led water harvesting technologies, and strengthening participatory planning & budgeting.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JNR HOSTS PASTORS AND CHURCH ELDERS FROM NGWATA AND ÎIANI AIC DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCILS, MASONGALENI WARD WHO PAID HIM A COURTESY CALL ON MONDAY.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr hosts pastors and church elders from Ngwata and Îiani AIC District Church Councils, Masongaleni Ward who paid him a courtesy call on Monday.

They discussed role of the church in community development.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo recognized the importance of the church and pledged support for its community driven development initiatives.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN PRE-MADARAKA DAY FOOD SECURITY EXHIBITION 

May 27, 2024

Makueni County is participating in the Pre-Madaraka Day Food Security Exhibition, which began today, 27th May, and will continue until 31st May, 2024, in Bungoma County. This exhibition precedes this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, themed “Agriculture and Food Security.”

The exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, aims to bring together key players in the sector to engage in in-depth discussions, analysis, and exhibitions of strategies and achievements in Kenya’s food security.

Agriculture PS Rono officially launched the exhibition. The theme for Day 1 is “Interventions to Enhance Access and Utilization of Agricultural Sector Inputs.”

#BETAKilimo

MAKUENI CELEBRATED FOR OUTSTANDING BUDGET TRANSPARENCY

May 24, 2024

Makueni County Government has been lauded for its budget transparency, securing the second position consecutively in the annual survey conducted by the International Budget Partnership Kenya for Financial Year 2022/23, with an impressive score of 80 per cent.

The survey assessed key budget documents such as County Budget and Review Paper, County Fiscal Strategy Paper, Citizens/Mwananchi Budgets, County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and the Annual Developent Plan. Makueni had the most comprehensive County Integrated Development Plan 2023-27.

Other documents assessed were Approved Programme Based Budgets, 

Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports and the Finance Act.

Finance and Budget Executive Damaris Kavoi on Friday received the award on behalf of the county government at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.

She emphasized the importance of transparency for effective planning, accountability, and citizen engagement. This recognition bolsters the county’s credibility with donors and partners. 

Kavoi was accompanied by Planning Chief Officer Mutua Boniface and staff from the department.