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HAPA KAZI TU!

Wote Municipality is set for exponential growth with more devolved functions and resources to offer services.

In an introductory meeting between the Municipality Board and the new Governor H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Monday, a consensus was reached to transfer all the necessary functions from the County Government to the Municipality and the requisite resources to follow those functions.

Gazettement of the functions to be transferred to the Municipality is expected to be done within this month.

Governor Kilonzo Junior also met officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for a planning meeting on Digital Land Governance Programme.

The programme, funded by European Union and FAO is geared towards improved food and nutrition security, livelihoods and sustainable development through equitable and secure access and management of land.

This will be achieved through:

Enhanced efficient and effective land governance through the digitization and digitalization of land records and processes.
Improved conflicts and disputes resolution mechanisms on land and natural resources.
Improved and inclusive policy, legal and institutional frameworks

Cabinet Approves Annual Development Plan, Payment of Authenticated Pending Bills

In his first week in office, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has chaired three Cabinet meetings and approved several plans to steer Makueni County into higher development heights.

The plans include:

1. The Makueni Annual Development Plan 2023/2024;

2. 2023/2024 Budget Cycle Plan;

3. Makueni County Valuation Roll. To be presented to the assembly for approval when it begins sittings;

4. Own Source Revenue growth plan, with a target of more than a Billion;

Kilonzo Junior has assured suppliers that his administration will clear all pending bills, amounting to about Sh 700M, once they are audited and authenticated.

History in the Making

A journey that slowly began in 2013 through a senatorial by-election following the passing on of pioneer Senator Mutula Kilonzo Snr has today blossomed into the most coveted county job.

H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has taken over the mantle of leadership as the second governor of the great county of Makueni. H.E Lucy Mulili was also inaugurated as the second deputy governor.

“This is a momentous journey that began in 2013 when I accidentally ventured into politics after the death of my father. Since then, the people of Makueni have walked all the way with me, first as senator for two terms and now as governor,” said the new county boss.

Accompanied by family, relatives, friends and thousands of residents, Kilonzo Jnr was sworn in at Unoa grounds Wote in a ceremony presided over by Hon. Justice Robert Limo.

The event was also graced by Wiper Party Leader H.E Kalonzo Musyoka , outgoing governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, Senator-Elect Daniel Maanzo, County MP-Elect Rose Museo, Makueni MP-Elect Suzanne Kiamba, outgoing Makueni Assembly Speaker Hon. Douglas Mbilu, members of the county assembly elect, among other leaders.

Swearing in of Makueni County Governor-elect and the Deputy Governor-elect

This is to notify the public that pursuant to the Assumption of Office of Governor Act 2019, the inauguration and swearing in ceremony of the Makueni County Governor-elect H.E Mutula Kilonzo CBS and the Deputy Governor-elect H.E Lucy Mulili, will be held on Thursday 25^th August 2022 from 10:00am at the Unoa Grounds, Wote Town. Guests and members of the public are requested to be seated by 9:30am.

Kenya Youth Inter-County Sports Association (KYISA)- 7th Edition, 2022

Kajiado County is the proud host of the 7^th Edition of Kenya Youth Inter-County Sports Association (KYISA) games at Ongata Rongai.

The games were officially launched by H.E Martin Moshisho, the Deputy Governor – Kajiado County, and will run from 9^th to 17^th April, 2022 at the Nekeel Stadium, Nekeel Boys School and Laiser Hill Academy Grounds.

KYISA games were last held in 2019 with Busia as the host, before being interrupted by the infamous Covid-19 pandemic.

Youths aged between 18-23 from across the 47 counties will be competing in three disciplines;

Soccer,
Volleyball and
Basketball

Makueni County will be represented in all the disciplines.

Makueni ready to host the country for the 7th Devolution Conference

Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana on Friday hosted a high powered team from the Council of Governors, the senate and the national government who are in the county to assess its preparedness of Makueni County to host the seventh and the final annual devolution conference that is set to kick-off approximately in a month’s time.

Kisii governor James Ongwae who is the chairperson of the devolution conference planning committee, and led the team, noted that all delegates attending the conference will be vaccinated against Covid-19 before then, as one of the measures to prevent spreading of corona virus among the masses.

Kibwana assured the team that plans were on top gear to make sure that the 4-day conference will be a success adding that the county is working very closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure that all protocols will be observed to keep Covid-19 on check.

5,000 school going children benefit from dignity packs

Close to 5000 school going children drawn from various learning institutions in Makueni have benefitted from dignity packs in a bid to improve their personal hygiene and overall performance in schools.

The initiative, spearheaded by the County First Lady Nazi Kivutha in partnership with the department of Gender, Children, Culture and Social Services, entails distribution of dignity packs for both boys and girls and sensitization on menstrual hygiene management and general personal hygiene.

School-going children in Makueni benefit from dignity packs

The dignity pack for the boys include three inner wears, bar soap, toothbrush and paste while the girls received extra packets of sanitary towels each to last them approximately a term in school.

According to Nazi, lack of sanitary towels is one of the major causes of absenteeism from schools leading to poor performance and in other cases dropping out of schools. As such, the program will lead to improved retention of girls in schools.

The program that closed on Thursday at Malili Township primary school and ABC Ngaamba Secondary school in Malili sub-county targeted boys and girls in disadvantaged primary and secondary schools, county technical training institutes as well as special schools.

Makueni County Climate Change Fund Management Board unveiled

Members of the first County Climate Fund Management Board on Thursday took oath of office in a swearing in ceremony witnessed by Governor Kivutha Kibwana, his deputy Adelina Mwau and other senior county officials.

The board, whose main duty is to manage the climate change fund, will specifically approve the climate change budget, allocate resources, mainstream climate change projects, programs and activities in county planning and budgeting, and ensure their approval and inclusion in the County Integrated Development Plan. In addition, it will monitor disbursements, oversee budget execution, implementation and evaluation of climate programs and projects.

Governor Kibwana, while congratulating the members, asked them to be keen to implement the climate change regulations and policy that are already in place so as to help cushion the residents from the harsh effects of climate change.

Further, Kibwana urged the board to partner with the climate change committees based at the wards level to provide appropriate and robust climate change responses to specific needs.

The county government sets aside 2% of its annual development budget to the climate change fund. Other sources of funding include; moneys appropriated by the County Assembly; International Climate Finance (ICF) received directly or through the National Designated Authority and funds received from donors, stakeholders and supporters.

UCM partnership with SEKEB focuses on education and workforce development

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The University of Central Missouri is partnering with the Government of Makueni County-Kenya, a member of the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB), and Global Classroom Exchange (GCE) to enhance international workforce development and education opportunities.

The unique collaboration includes UCM, the Government of Makueni County-Kenya, the Economic Bloc and Global Classroom Exchange. The partnership officially launched at a Jan. 8, 2021, virtual signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding. MOU signers included the Governor of Makueni County, H.E. Professor Kivutha Kibwana; Dr. Phil Bridgmon, UCM provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; Dr. Laurel Hogue, vice provost for UCM Extended Studies; and John Musau, founder and CEO of Global Classroom Exchange.

Through the partnership, UCM Extended Studies will work with the university’s Kenyan peers on education, entrepreneurship and workforce development. The partners are leveraging technology to foster global collaboration in resolving local challenges. These organizations are working together to develop real-world sustainable solutions for students and adults. Students from Kenya and the United States will also gain hands-on experiences in areas such as Internet of Things, virtual reality, telehealth and entrepreneurship while working on industry-recognized certifications and accelerated degree programs.

The partnership’s foundation began in 2019 with Summit Technology Academy (Lee’s Summit R-7 School District) meeting virtually with students in Kenya to become acquainted and begin planning their combined efforts. During fall 2019, Kenya Governor Kivutha Kibwana and a delegation from Kenya visited Lee’s Summit to tour the Missouri Innovation Campus and meet with officials from UCM and Summit Technology Academy.

This new partnership has benefited significantly from the involvement of Digloso Ltd, a company focusing on providing emerging populations with technological infrastructure and modular application platforms. Digloso is headquartered in Kenya.

Want to become involved?

Business, individuals and organizations have the opportunity to collaborate in the project, which is actively seeking partners to help with solutions. For more information, contact Joe Mullins at jmullins@ucmo.edu or Dr. Laurel Hogue at lhogue@ucmo.edu.

Components of the partnership

Leveraging technology to enhance academic learning
Developing career pathways with joint workforce programs for global markets
Establishing UCM dual credit and concurrent programs with Makueni County-Kenya
Providing students with opportunities to gain hands-on experiences in areas such as Internet of Things, virtual reality, telehealth and entrepreneurship while also working on industry-recognized certifications and accelerated degree programs
Focusing on meaningful collaboration and project-based learning.

What the partners are saying

“The Makueni Innovation Centre will provide an avenue for young people within the County, the SEKEB Region and beyond to develop skills and innovations that are necessary in creating an economic ecosystem,” said said the governor of Makueni County, Hon. Professor Kivutha Kibwana. “Unemployment is a major challenge in Kenya, especially among the youth, and I believe the experience they will receive through this partnership will create employment opportunities for them.”

“Today is the result of a lot of work and collaboration, and we are really excited about the work ahead,” said Dr. Laurel Hogue, vice provost for UCM Extended Studies, during the virtual MOU signing.

“We talk about having borders, and we talk about creating opportunities and sometimes those two don’t go hand-in-hand,” said John Musau, founder and CEO of Global Classroom Exchange. “I feel this is one opportunity for us to make a difference.”

“This is an important engagement in workforce development that will provide career pathways in an area that is growing and emerging,” said Dr. Phil Bridgmon, UCM provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

About the partners

The University of Central Missouri operates campuses in Lee’s Summit and Warrensburg, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as certificate programs, professional education courses and customized corporate curriculum. UCM and Summit Technology Academy have shared space and resources in the award-winning Missouri Innovation Campus facility since its opening in fall 2017.
The South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc includes three counties: Kitui, Machakos and Makueni with a combined estimated population of 4.7 million. The Bloc was created to provide social and economic development for its citizens.
Global Classroom Exchange is the CSR arm of Digloso, a company focusing on providing emerging populations with technological infrastructure and modular applications platforms. Digloso’s founder and CEO John Musau is a native of Kenya with the company’s headquarters located in Machakos, Kenya.

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Makueni eyes solar energy to power its installations

Makueni County has entered into a partnership agreement with GIGAWATT Global, a developer and supplier of renewable energy installations, to install solar power generators at agreed upon facilities.

The goal of this project, governor Kivutha Kibwana says, is to provide cheap, reliable and clean energy to power public installations and later markets and villages not connected to the national power grid.

Ultimately, the collaboration will lead to development of a 40MW solar project to bridge the energy supply gap in the county.

Governor Kibwana was upbeat that this will revamp the local economy and create great opportunities especially for young people.

Some of the institutions targeted for connectivity include: Makueni Fruit Processing Plant, Makindu Grain Processing Plant, health facilities, learning institutions as well as water distributions points.

The agreement was signed by Governor Kibwana and the Chief Executive Officer GIGAWATT GLOBAL Mr. Josef Abramowitz in Nairobi on Tuesday.