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Mukuyuni market to undergo key modernization

The Mukuyuni market traders in Kaiti Sub-County have something to smile about as the process of modernizing the market place gathers steam.

The project which is implemented by Wote Municipality is funded by World Bank through the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP) and will be ready for use in the next 5 months, Wote Municipal Manager, Urbanus Mbindyo has said.

This was revealed on Tuesday when representatives from the Ministry of Devolution, World Bank, and the Council of Governors met with H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr together with his deputy Lucy Mulili. The meeting sought to brief the governor on the status of KUSP projects and the ongoing preparations for designing a new program to succeed KUSP.

The Mukuyuni modern market will accommodate over 150 traders. Its design has a provision for two floors which will have a cold room, a hybrid solar system, stalls, shops, and a drive-through for road users as well as a solid waste management system. It will also have solar lighting and 30,000-liter rainwater harvesting tank.

Other projects implemented through KUSP in the county are Wote Public Green Park, the upgrading of Wote roads to Bitumen standards, the upgrading of Wote Marikiti market, and the erection of the 27 solar high mast lighting project.

Why there will be no projects duplication in Makueni

Makueni, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) implementing partners on Friday concluded a two-day joint work planning workshop aiming at ensuring no duplication of development projects in the county.

The partners’ discussion stretched into joint designing, planning, monitoring, and learning so that they don’t implement similar projects.

The process of a joint work plan is a result of an MoU that the County signed with USAID in 2020, and has since provided an avenue to jointly examine data, and evaluate past progress so as to identify priority areas for the next fiscal year.

During the workshop, the partners identified the main priority areas of the Governor’s Manifesto for inclusion in the Joint Work Planning, awaiting validation and signing off by USAID and Makueni for implementation to commence.

The workshop was facilitated by USAID Resilience Learning Activity (RLA).

 

Makueni to benefit from informal settlements town upgrading program

Wote: October 28, 2022

Deputy governor H.E Lucy Mulili on Friday received a delegation in her office from the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement program (KISIP) in a move to plan a roadmap to improve informal settlements within Makueni’s towns.

According to Dr. Peris Mang’ira, KISIP national coordinator, before embarking on an improvement project of the informal settlements, they will first conduct project planning and do a survey as well as aerial drone photography.

The project comes after Mjini village (Kibwezi town), Misongeni (Makindu town), and Soko-Mjinga in Emali town qualified for tenure regularization intervention under the project.

Makueni is among the counties funded by the World Bank through the state department of housing to improve their informal settlements.

The Deputy Governor noted that mushrooming of informal settlements is a hindrance to getting accurate boundaries and buffer zoning as well as land management, welcoming the KISIP team to partner with the county in the entire process.

 

Makueni to distribute Sh 120M Planting Seeds to Farmers

Makueni County Government will distribute certified planting seeds and relief food worth Sh 120M to its residents, H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has said.

He spoke at Kathonzweni on Thursday while flagging off emergency relief food together with County Commissioner Beverly Opwora and Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili.

Governor Mutula Jnr also noted that his administration is in the process of purchasing more relief food through its emergency kitty to supplement efforts by the national government to alleviate hunger.

 

KeNHA to partner with Makueni in revamping road safety measures

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is seeking to partner with Makueni in a move to improve road safety measures on all roads that fall within the KeNHA purview in the county.

This was revealed today following a courtesy call by KeNHA Lower Eastern Regional Director Eng. James Kariuki to H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

Eng. Kariuki said that they were embarking on various interventions towards ensuring that the roads are safer for users in Makueni.

Some of the proposed areas of collaboration include: rolling out tree-planting exercises along the roads, joint solutions regarding traffic issues caused by Matatus parking on the road shoulders, and relocation of traders spreading in road reserves across various market centers.

However, it was observed that the county government should liaise with KeNHA before allocating permits to businesses abutting roadways to ensure that the businesses are viable in view of location and safety

Sensitization of citizens on the importance of protection and preservation of the road asset was also emphasized.

Governor Mutula raised concerns about the increasing deaths of traffic hawkers operating in the towns of Salama, Emali, and Sultan-Hamud among other towns along the Northern corridor section urging KeNHA for immediate intervention to ensure the safety of the traders.

 

Governor Mutula Lauds Thwake dam Construction Progress

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has commended the progress made in Thwake Dam construction, which stands at 74 percent to date.

During a tour of the project site in the company of County Commissioner Beverly Opwora on Tuesday, Governor Mutula Jnr expressed confidence that Phase One of the project will be ready for commissioning next year as envisioned by the national Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

H.E Mutula Jnr termed the project as one of the answers to the perpetual water and food stress bedeviling Makueni County. He said the Ministry of Water and Irrigation has given him its commitment for supply of water to Kalawa Ward and Wote town.

The governor also challenged the national government to start planning for the next phases of the project, which include a 20MW hydropower plant, water supply and sanitation as well as the irrigation component.

To ensure skills transfer, the governor put up a request to the contractor for capacity building of the county government’s water personnel in mega water dams construction to scale up their prowess.

 

 

Makueni, GIZ in partnership talks

 

The First Lady H.E Anita Mutula today held a consultative meeting with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) corporation where they discussed possible areas of working together.

GIZ is an international organization that works with national, international, and private sector partners and concerns itself with priority areas; sustainable economic development, renewable energy, and climate change.

GIZ eyes to partner with the County through the office of the First Lady to empower women from deep within the villages.

The partnership aims at creating more consumer awareness and adoption of new friendly technologies such as improved cooking stoves for locals among others.

Anita was thrilled by the new technology saying that it will create jobs for the youth and reduce respiratory problems linked to firewood use.

 

A SITTING WITH COUNTY DRIVERS

On Tuesday 25th October, the Governor H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr held a meeting with a section of motor vehicle drivers and machine operators employed by the County Government of Makueni to gain insight into their operations and work environment.

The drivers had an opportunity to speak candidly about their challenges and more importantly their views on how their welfare can be improved through training and promotion of good performers.

The drivers agreed to ensure county assets entrusted to them by the people of Makueni are well handled and maintained for the benefit of the County.

However, the Governor warned against misuse of government vehicles and machineries.

“Recently, I made far reaching changes in the transport department which was plagued by inefficiency, high maintenance and fuel bills. I make it clear that misuse of vehicles and machinery will not be tolerated,” the Governor said.

The meeting ended on a positive note with a commitment to change.

 

GOVERNOR MUTULA JR MAKES CABINET APPOINTMENTS

Today marked a key milestone in the formation of the Government of Makueni County, with the presentation to the County Assembly nominees to the County Executive Committee.
Pursuant to the County Governments Act 2020, the names were early today submitted to the Speaker of the County Assembly in preparation for vetting. The team also recruited a County Attorney who will serve as the legal advisor to the Executive and the Assembly as well.
The selection panel took into account areas of expertise, experience, gender balance and regional representation across Makueni County.
In his speech at the County Assembly on Tuesday, H.E the Governor urged the Assembly to expedite the vetting so that the team can embark on the business of serving the people of Makueni. At the moment, the County is faced with the dire need for famine relief and drinking water, occasioned by the prolonged drought.
Immediately the Supplementary budget is approved, emergency food supplies, water and certified seeds will be provided for an estimated 50,000 households across the most affected areas in Makueni. The incoming team has their work cut out.
The nominees are:
• Peter Mumo Nyamai – Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture & Tourism
• Eng. Sebastian Kyoni – Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works and Energy
• Eng. John Kasyoki – Water and Sanitation
• Japheth Musyoka Mang’oka – Devolution, Public Service, Public Participation & Special Programmes
• Damaris Mumo Kavoi – Finance, Planning, Budget & Revenue
• Dr. Sonia Nzilani Musyoka – Lands Urban Planning & Development, Environment & Climate Change
• Elizabeth Ndunge Muli – ICT Education & Internship
• Nicholas Masila Nzioka – Gender, Children, Youth, Sports & Social Service
• Dr. Paul Musila – Health Services
• Joyce Mutua – Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries & Cooperative Development
• Stanley Mutinda Nthiwa – County Attorney