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Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr: We will ensure enough budget for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in the next 2023/2024 Financial Year

Makueni Governor H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Thursday joined various stakeholders, public and community partners involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in marking this year’s World Aids Day at Wote, Makueni Sub-County.
With the theme, “Equalize”, the Governor underscored the need for increased knowledge of HIV and access to treatment with a call to ending stigma so as to allow people access services without fear.
“We have attained impressive results so far, 70% of Makuenians living with HIV are aware of their HIV status. Of those who know their status, 94% are on HIV treatment and 92% of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression. We can end stigma and allow those scared of accessing services to do so without fear of discrimination,” the Governor said.
The Governor called on the Department of Health to ensure funds are allocated in the next financial year for HIV/AIDS related services.

1,000 Makueni farmers benefit from coffee seedlings

Over 1,000 farmers from Mbooni Sub-County have benefitted from coffee seedlings in a move to boost coffee farming in the area.
The county gave the Batian composite variety, the best coffee variety which is a mixture of different pure lines for that region.
The seedlings, a donation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock was flagged off by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua on Thursday at Nzaini Coffee factory.
She was accompanied by Executives Dr. Sonia Nzilani (Lands and Environment), Nicholas Masila Nzioka (Gender) and Mbooni MCA Hon. Alexander Mulemba, who took part in the distribution exercise across various coffee factories in the locality.
“This Batian we are giving to farmers is an improved variety and is tolerant to Coffee Berry Disease, leaf rust and has high production,” said Mutua
Hon. Mulemba called on the farmers to take advantage of the public participation forums during the budget making processes so as to allocate enough funds for coffee production.
They also took part in planting coffee seedlings within the compounds of some of the 7 coffee factories in Mbooni.
 

Bat-and-ball game hits Makueni!

Makueni has started discussions with Cricket Kenya aiming at opening opportunities to the youth towards earning them livelihood through sports.
The fruits will soon be felt following the launch of the game on Wednesday at Enzai playground, Mukaa, Kilome.
The launch was overseen by Makueni’s sports Director Ambrose Kisoi who doubles as the Secretary General- Kenya Youth Inter-County Sports Association (KYISA) and Member- Youth Commission (National Olympic Committee of Kenya).
Atleast 35 trainee coaches have been introduced to this game and will be awarded a world class recognized basic coaching certificate; according to Kisoi.
During the same occasion, 25 pupils were excited to have a first hand experience in Bowling with hope of becoming experienced bowlers and all-rounders at long-run.
“We were privileged to host 6 top class Cricket Kenya professionals including David Obuya, former Kenyan cricketer and the national team coach among others,” Kisoi said
Makueni will be embarking on a programme to ensure that the game is introduced in the remaining 5 sub-counties by June, 2023.

CIHEB allocates Sh. 108M to Makueni for HIV, TB prevention and treatment

The Center for International Health Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB) has allocated Sh. 108M to Makueni county health services docket for HIV prevention and treatment services, the organization’s CEO Dr. Emily Koech has announced.

The institution is implementing a 5-year workplan for disease control and prevention funded program dubbed ‘The partnership for advanced care and treatment’ in the Lower Eastern region.

Dr. Koech led his CIHEB team on Monday to pay a courtesy call to governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and his deputy Lucy Mulili with their discussions centered on comprehensive HIV and TB treatment.

Since last year, the organization funded Makueni through the county health management team to a tune of Sh. 112M to provide services and activities highlighted below.

● Provision of HIV prevention interventions for general and key populations including HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis(PrEP) services and gender-basedHIV-exposed violence

●Provision of High-quality targeted HIV testing services (HTS) leading to the identification and linkage of HIV-infected individuals.

● Provision of HIV prevention and treatment services for pregnant and breast-feeding women and HIV-exposedlast infants.

● Provision of quality patient-centered HIV care and treatment services for PLHIV, including management of commodities.

● Strengthening of health systems to support the delivery of HIV and TB related services including laboratory systems, commodity management and monitoring and evaluation systems.gender-based

Marking 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

On Tuesday, Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Executive Nicholas Nzioka held a meeting with Harriette Chiggai, President advisor on women rights with their discussions centered on standing up against Gender-Based Violence in the County.

Chiggai was elated by structures put in place such safe house, operational Policare among others.

Ndukuma Dam – Keeping the promise to the people

Excavation works for desilting of Ndukuma Dam in Muvau Ward, Makueni Constituency, has started.

The works include clearing vegetation, 5-meter deep excavation of the dam basin to remove silt accumulated over decades and raising the embankment by 0.5metres to increase the capacity of the dam.

Once the 58-acre dam is refurbished, it will serve more than 19 villages in the area. The work is being carried out by Makueni County Engineers led by CEC for Water Eng. Kasyoki Kieti and our county machine operators and technicians.

The county has committed a total of Kshs 50 million for this first phase.

Makueni targets to plant 200,000 seedlings and scatter 1 Million seed balls for wild tending

Makueni targets to plant 200,000 seedlings and scatter 1 Million seed balls for wild tending; Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said.
On Saturday, the governor flagged by environment champions from Mbooni planted over 20,000 seedlings.
Environment and Gender Executives Dr. Sonia Nzilani and Nicholas Masila respectively led another group in Kibwezi- East in tree planting to combat the climate crisis and restore biodiversity.

Governor Mutula Jnr. meets CoG

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr digs into co-operation between Counties and the national Government for better service delivery
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr who is also the Council of Governors (COG) Legal, Constitutional Affairs, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee chair on Friday chaired his first meeting at the COG Delta House offices in Nairobi.
The meeting discussions were centered on issues affecting County Governments, establishing frameworks that allow for consultations and also co-operation between counties and the national government.
After deliberations, the committee unanimously agreed on the following resolutions:
1. The committee to fast track the Intergovernmental Relations (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2021-a Bill for AN ACT of Parliament to amend the Intergovernmental Relations Act to streamline the procedure for the transfer and delegation of powers, functions, and competencies between the two levels of government and for connected purposes.
2. They will hold a consultative meeting with critical offices in January 2023, such as the ODPP to deliberate on the prosecution of cases emanating from County laws, the office of the Chief Justice to discuss on utilization of fines and fees emanating from County Laws, pay a courtesy call to the Speakers and leaders of the majority of both houses and with the Attorney General aiming at strengthening Intergovernmental relations between parliament and the County Governments as well as fast-track the enactment of the IGR (Amendment) Bill
The to-be January meeting also targets the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) to create a synergy between the 47 county assemblies and Executives.
3. The COG to support County Governments on the institutionalization of the office of the County Attorney.
The meeting was also attended by various County attorneys.

Launch of County Statistical Abstract 2022 and Inaugural Ward Statistical Profiles

Makueni County will from now henceforth use the ward as its basic development planning and implementation unit, governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has said.
Speaking during the launch of County Statistical Abstract 2022 and inaugural Ward Statistical Profiles in Wote, Thursday, governor Mutula said this move will accelerate development at the local level and contribute to county sustainable development and transformation.
In previous years, the county allocated Sh 33 Million annually to each ward for ward specific development as suggested by the people through public participation, but this has not achieved socio-economic parity according to governor Mutula Jnr.
To achieve this parity, the governor said his administration will formulate a resource allocation criterion similar to that used by the Commission on Revenue Allocation to promote equity and address the unique needs of each ward.
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