Partnerships

THINKWELL GLOBAL DEEPENS COLLABORATION WITH MAKUENI TO STRENGTHEN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE

On Thursday,ThinkWell Global leadership team visited Makueni to explore ways of strengthening Primary Health Care (PHC) delivery.

During the engagement with County Executive Committee Member for Health Joyce Mutua, Chief Officer Dr. Harvey Mbithi, and other senior health officials, the team discussed progress made under the Strategic Purchasing for Primary Health Care (SP4PHC) project, an initiative aimed at improving how health services are financed, managed, and delivered at the community level.

Mutua emphasized that partnerships like this are helping Makueni build a more responsive and sustainable health system.

The ThinkWell delegation also toured Kathonzweni Health Centre and Kiangini Dispensary, where they witnessed first-hand how local health workers are applying data-driven approaches to improve service delivery and patient outcomes.

Impressed by the county’s leadership and innovation in health governance, the team expressed optimism about scaling up the partnership to further advance universal health coverage in Makueni.

MAKUENI COUNTY, BAMBURI LEAD EYE SCREENING DRIVE TO BOOST ROAD SAFETY

Makueni County, in partnership with Bamburi Cement Ltd, has launched a major road safety campaign targeting over 2,000 long-distance truck drivers along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Dubbed “Healthy Eyes, Safer Roads,” the week-long drive at SUPASTOP, Sultan Hamud, focuses on early detection of vision problems and health risks like hypertension, diabetes, and fatigue-key contributors to accidents along the Highway, where 70% of the county’s road crashes occur.

Led by medical teams from Kilome Nursing Hospital, the initiative offers free eye checks, prescription glasses, safety gear, and referrals. It also includes safe driving education.

The public-private effort, involving NTSA, Kenya Transporters Association, Superior Homes, and others, supports Makueni’s goal to cut accidents and shape better transport policy.

MAKUENI SEALS DEAL WITH KEVEVAPI TO STRENGTHEN LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH

The Makueni County Government has signed a strategic partnership with the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) in a move set to revolutionize livestock health and boost the local economy.

The collaboration seeks to improve vaccine uptake in the county, which currently stands at a low 30 percent, with an ambitious target of reaching 70 percent. Through this deal, farmers will benefit from a more reliable, timely, and efficient supply of vaccines.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the fight against devastating livestock diseases, including Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Caprine Pleuropneumonia, Rabies, Brucellosis, and Rift Valley Fever.

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili hailed the partnership as a major boost to livestock farming, which contributes 20 percent to Makueni’s GDP and sustains 65 percent of households.

Her remarks were echoed by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli, who reaffirmed the county’s pledge to fully support the initiative and ensure long-term success.

KALAWA MANGO FARMERS EXPLORE NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Mango farmers on Wednesday held a linkage meeting in Kalawa, organized by the County Government in collaboration with stakeholders across the mango value chain.

The forum brought together farmers, exporters, processors, county officials, TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the agro-chemical industry to explore ways of boosting commercial mango farming.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Officer for Livestock, Japheth Kiminza said partnerships are key to unlocking the sector’s potential and transforming farmers’ incomes.

He further urged farmers to use the platform to connect with exporters and processors, noting that access to reliable markets remains a major challenge.

The meeting that was attended by Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority Managing Director Joseph Kioko provided farmers with a chance to engage on export opportunities, address production hurdles and build stronger, sustainable value chains.

MAKUENI COUNTY LAUNCHES ‘INSPIRING READERS’ PROJECT

The County Government of Makueni, in partnership with the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS), has launched the Inspiring Readers Project at Mutyambua Library in Mbitini Ward. The program benefits five schools in Mbitini and Emali/Mulala Wards.

Chief Officer ICT, Education, and Internship, Irene Makau, reaffirmed Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s commitment to strengthening community libraries to enhance reading culture in the county emphasizing the County government’s commitment to embrace virtual reading by ensuring internet connectivity to the County Libraries.

KNLS officials led by Director Preservation Betty Kalugho unveiled plans to roll out virtual libraries in County Libraries. Already, learners are showing improved reading skills and confidence, with the initiative sparking a love for reading. With ten libraries established in partnership with Book Aid International, the success at Mutyambua sets the pace for further expansion across the county.

MAKUENI’S NEW ENERGY POLICY LIGHTS THE WAY FOR CLEAN, RELIABLE ACCESS

Makueni County has launched an ambitious new energy policy that aims to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable power to homes, schools, health centers, and business across its six sub-counties, cementing its place as a national leader in Kenya’s green energy transition.

Unveiled Tuesday in Wote by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., the Energy Policy 2025 builds on a string of successful projects, including 44 solar installations, expanded electricity grid access, and the county’s first clean cooking pilot.

The policy follows the Makueni County Energy Plan 2023–2032, already delivering impact across health, water, agriculture, trade, and gender sectors. In FY 2024/25 alone, the county invested KES 99.38 million in solar energy.

Over 60 market centers have been fitted with solar streetlights, while five towns now boast high-mast floodlights, which has enhanced security and extended trading hours.

The new policy was developed in collaboration with UK PACT, Strathmore University, World Resources Institute, and Just Energy Transition Africa.

The British High Commission to Kenya, through representative Dan Wilcox, called Makueni’s efforts “trailblazing.” Prof. Izael Da Silva of Strathmore University urged the national government to follow suit, calling energy access a driver of GDP growth.

Dr. Rebekah Shirley of the World Resources Institute praised Makueni for crafting energy solutions tailored to local needs.

MAKUENI SHINES IN FAMILY PLANNING AS COUNTY RECORDS 64% MODERN CONTRACEPTIVE PREVELENCE RATE UPTAKE

Makueni County has been hailed as a model for family planning in Kenya, boasting a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 64 percent against the National’s 57%.

The recognition came from the Ministry of Health and development partners during the national World Contraceptive Day celebrations held at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote on Friday.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Albert Ndwiga, the Ministry of Health’s Family Planning Program Manager, praised Makueni’s progressive strides, noting this as a key reason the county was chosen to host the national event.

He urged men to actively support their partners in family planning initiatives and challenged those who undermine the progress.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili highlighted milestones achieved, including integrating family planning into maternal health services, particularly in the immediate postpartum period, leading to reduced maternal deaths linked to unintended pregnancies.

She commended the role of community health promoters who champion family planning at the household level.

Mulili also called on the national government to strengthen data systems and enhance accountability to ensure evidence-based policies and equitable resource allocation.

FRENCH ENVOY LEADS DELEGATION TO MAKUENI TO ASSESS LIFE-SAVING HEALTH PROJECTS

French Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Arnaud Suquet, on Wednesday led a high-powered delegation of five French parliamentarians and partners to Makueni County to review the progress of Unitaid-funded health projects.

The team assessed the AMPLI-PPHI program, led by Jhpiego, which focuses on reducing maternal deaths caused by excessive bleeding after birth as well as a cancer screening and treatment program led by Clinton Health Access Initiative.

The visit , supported through Global Health Advocates France (GHA), mobilizes French and European policymakers to champion sustainable financing and innovative solutions for global health.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. won praise for steering impactful interventions, including the introduction and scale up of life saving innovations such as heat stable carbetocin for PPH prevention, obstetric drapes for objective blood loss measurement and across all public health facilities providing birthing services in Makueni county.

Remarkably, Makueni has recorded zero maternal deaths from PPH in the year 2023 and 2024.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH WOMEN ENGAGED IN DEVELOPMENT TO TRAIN BODABODA OPERATORS ON MATERNAL HEALTH

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday joined Prof.Ann Kihara, Executive Director for Women Engaged in development to roll out an innovative program targeting bodaboda operators as key players in maternal healthcare under the Okoa na Mtoto Initiative.

The launch, held at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, brought together bodaboda representatives who were trained as trainers of trainers on maternal, newborn, and adolescent health.

They will cascade this knowledge to their peers across the county to ensure safer pregnancies and deliveries.

Prof. Ann Kihara noted that expectant women in rural areas often rely on bodabodas as the most accessible and affordable means of transport during emergencies.

She emphasized that training riders would strengthen their role in supporting timely maternal healthcare.

Her program aims to, within two years, cut maternal deaths reported in health facilities by 30 percent, achieve 80 percent timely emergency transfers, and enroll at least 40 percent of active riders into an accredited emergency transport network.

Governor Mutula urged bodaboda leaders to sensitize their members, stressing that their involvement is vital in reducing preventable maternal and child mortality in Makueni.

MAKUENI COUNTY LAUNCHES ‘INSPIRING READERS’ PROJECT.

The Government of Makueni County, in partnership with the Kenya National Library Service (KNLS), has launched a major literacy initiative, the Inspiring Readers Project. The event held today at the Kithasyu Library brought together learners and educators from five beneficiary schools in Thange, Makindu, and Nguumo wards, signaling a strong commitment to boosting reading culture and expanding access to learning resources across the county.

The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for ICT, Education, and Internship, Japheth Mang’oka used the platform to reaffirm Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and the County Government’s dedication to supporting all of its community libraries. He praised local residents for their role in ensuring the projects’ success and sustainability. Complementing this effort, KNLS officials announced a new collaboration to develop virtual libraries within County ICT Centres, bridging the digital divide and expanding knowledge access beyond physical walls.

The project is already having a profound impact, with students expressing excitement about the new school libraries and noting a significant improvement in their reading skills and confidence. With ten libraries already established in partnership with Book Aid International, the program’s success at Kithasyu paves the way for its next expansion to the Mutyambua Library in Mbitini Ward, empowering communities through the transformative power of education.