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Partnerships

SEKEB Courts USAID for Development Partnerships

The South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) is seeking to partner with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to leverage on its resources for the region’s development.

SEKEB top leadership under the chairmanship of ABC Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, governor Kivutha Kibwana, speakers Douglas Mbilu, Florence Mwangangi and majority leaders from the three counties on Thursday held a consultative meeting with the agency’s Country and East Africa Mission director Mark Meassick to deliberate on possible partnerships.

The meeting, also attended by other top ranking USAID officials, was held at Bomani ABC Church grounds in Machakos.

According to Meassick, USAID invests over $450Million in Kenya annually, and is ready to partner with SEKEB as a co-creator targeting wealth creation especially in Agriculture, water development, health and climate change resilience building.

Meassick said USAID is seeking to take advantage of the devolution system of governance to enhance closer relations with County governments geared towards a transformative development agenda.

Governor Kibwana said SEKEB is in the process of establishing a framework that would guide the shared development partnerships among the member counties and as well with development partners. 

Three Ukambani Deputy Governors pledge to support development collaborations championed by their County Bosses

Deputy Governors Adelina Mwau, Eng Francis Maliti and Dr Wathe Nzau have pledged their unequivocal support for the Poverty Eradication Movement formed by the three Ukambani governors saying it is the only sure way to better the lives of their citizenry as well as accelerate the intentions of South Eastern Economic Bloc (SEKEB).

The three Ukambani DGs on Monday when they addressed the press at Maliti’s office in Machakos noted that the three counties share a lot in common but genuine unity to solve their unique challenges have been missing.

In a joint statement, the DGs further observed that it is only through the unity of purpose that the people of Ukambani can realize the goldmines they have been sitting on over the years and urged the three governors to soldier on.

“We are talking of building into each other’s efforts. For example, we are talking of Kalamba fruit processing plant in Makueni and we can have all Ukambani fruits processed there. We have a lot to learn about the Kitui Ndengu revolution. We are not duplicating but building on each other’s comparative advantages,” Mwau said.

“The initiatives through SEKEB the three governors have come up with are very good. We must change the way we used to do things if we are to expect different results. We also support the religious leaders who are trying to bring the leaders together. We need leaders who can bring our people together for politics of development,” said Nzau.

The deputy governors have lauded their bosses for choosing a direction away from the status quo and for reviving SEKEB which they said will concentrate on the following issues;

  • Development of key infrastructures such as roads, mega dams and factories,
  • Establishment of regional bank to support the economy of the region,
  • Promote agriculture,
  • Develop a policy on Universal Health Coverage where health insurance can be used across all the facilities in the 3 counties,
  • Jointly to exploit common natural resources and come up with a framework on how the people will directly benefit,
  • Provide conducive environment to both local and international investors and market the region an investment and tourist destination and,
  • Revive and value add cotton and leather industries whose raw materials are readily available in the region.

Support counties to join Open Government Partnership: Mwau

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau has urged the national government to support counties to join open government partnership saying that their efforts will go a long way in enhancing openness and accountability across the country.

While addressing key stakeholders during the launch of the third Open Government Partnership National Action Plan led by Deputy President William Ruto on Monday at Serena, Mwau noted that concerted efforts will help the country to achieve the Big Four Agenda and Vision 2030.

“It will be a great idea for you to support County Governments to become members so that we can all join efforts to willingly enhance accountability and openness across the Country,” Mwau said.

In his keynote remarks, Ruto noted that involvement of citizens by government in audit of its programmes ensures stability of the nation as well as promote effective democracy.

He said: “When a government involves citizens, civil society in the audits of its practices and programmes, the society is more stable, the country more organized and the people happy because they know their nation is run in their best interests.”

He further lauded Makueni for institutionalizing open governance through involvement of its citizenry in its development programs.

Makueni, according to the DG has partnered with Hivos and Development Gateway to ensure open governance and signed a Memorandum of Understanding which established the terms and conditions under which open contracting can be implemented.

The third National Action Plan will be anchored on the following commitments:

  • Publish a central public register of company beneficial ownership information operating in the country;
  • Open contracting to improve transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption;
  • Open-Geo Spatial data for development by lowering the barrier and increase access to geospatial data;
  • Improve public participation for better and responsive service delivery;
  • Improve public sector performance through governance indices and
  • Build open government resiliency.

Makueni inks deal with Nairobi Women’s Hospital to establish recovery center

Makueni has officially unveiled a Sexual and Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (SGBVRC) at the Makueni County referral hospital.

The facility, the first by a county government, was unveiled on Wednesday by nominated Member of Parliament Cecily Mbarire flanked by governor Kivutha Kibwana, founder and director of strategy  Nairobi Women’s Hospital Sam Thenya, Nairobi City County assembly speaker Beatrice Elachi, deputy governor Adelina Mwau and County MP Rose Museo.

Kibwana, on behalf of the County Government, also signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Nairobi Women’s Hospital which lays out a framework for collaboration between the two parties to develop, promote and strengthen joint actions and collaboration towards prevention and response to gender-based violence within Makueni County.

According to the MoU, The Nairobi Women Hospital Gender Recovery Centre will:

  1. Offer technical support and guidance on the establishment and management of the county referral hospital gender based violence recovery centre (GBVRC).
  2. Through consultation with the GMC, conduct capacity building on GBV prevention and response for key stakeholders involved in GBV management such as the healthcare providers, community structures and other relevant cadres or groups.
  3. Provide technical advice to the policy makers and those in the county relevant institutions on strengthening GBV prevention and response and institutionalization of policies.
  4. Collaborate with GMC to institutionalize the use of evidence informed interventions through activities such as baseline and end-line assessments, program reviews.
  5. Implement targeted community and learning institutions education awareness on GBV prevention and response in collaboration with GMC
  6. Collaborate with the county to support in monitoring GBV activities through quarterly stakeholders’ meetings and other appropriate approaches.
  7. Collaborate wth GMC in sharing GBV data to promote evidence based programming maintaining confidentiality of affected persons (Suvivors of gender based violence).
  8. At their cost, receive referrals for GBV specialized care and treatment 
  9. Participate in or facilitate GBV technical coordination group meetings
  10. Aassist in establishing linkages and networks including resource mobilization for the GBV program.

Makueni pens deal with UN-Habitat for sustainable development partnership

Makueni County on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UN-Habitat to collaborate in different development projects in the county.

The MoU, signed by governor Kivutha Kibwana and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Sharif seeks to:-

  • Improve county planning practices;
  • Enhance production and use of appropriate materials for decent housing;
  • Develop a Green Energy Strategy with an action plan;
  • Develop a plan for sustainable solid waste management;
  • Strengthen revenue enhancement capacity and Local Economic Development (LED) and
  • Empower youth development.

The deal, according to governor Kibwana, will help achieve better quality of life for the people of Makueni with hope that it will open opportunities for partnerships with other UN bodies.

“We are excited about this deal. When we began negotiations last year, we had a list of many things but slowly it has been easy. We hope this is an opening for more partnerships with other UN bodies,” Kibwana said.

Sharif acknowledged the county for its efforts towards achieving the big four agenda in the country citing her happiness to see the signing of deal come true.

She said: ” I acknowledge the contribution of Makueni towards realising of the big four agenda in the country. I’m happy to see this come true today.”

Present to witness the signing of the agreement were deputy governor Adelina Mwau and other top county government officials.

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Kibwana hosts Polish Envoy for Bilateral Trade Engagement

Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Monday hosted at Wote the Polish ambassador to Kenya Jacek Bazanski for a bilateral trade engagement with special focus on cooperative movement development.

The ambassador said his major reason for the Makueni visit was to establish a platform for Polish companies to interact with their Kenyan /Makueni counterparts for shared economic partnerships.

He said Makueni has entrenched a transparent leadership which is attracting investors, and Poland would seek to work with the county for the benefit of both the county government and his country.

Bazanski was accompanied by the Nairobi Bureau Chief of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency Michael Mazurewicz.

The two, accompanied by governor Kibwana and department of trade officials held talks with representatives of cooperators across Makueni.

Kibwana welcomed any partnership with Poland investors that would help grow the County cooperative movement to become a key socio-economic driver to the county and Country at large.

“We are desirous of establishing mutually beneficial relations with your country in the areas of agro-processing, water harvesting/conservation and road infrastructure development so that we can easily embrace technology from your country,” Kibwana told the envoy.

Kibwana said since the inception of his government, the cooperative movement has grown from 83 cooperatives to 207, with a total membership of 50,866, share capital of Kenya shillings 264,002,126, turnover of Kenya shillings 72,862,269 and members’ savings of Kenya shillings 202,389,214.

The Polish envoy agreed to co-facilitate a trip to Poland for the Makueni cooperators’ representatives to learn from best practices on cooperative movement participation in the country’s development.

Poland has one of the most developed cooperative movement which has catapulted it to the 6th biggest economy in Europe.

Ukambani governors meet to jump-start Regional Economic Bloc

Governors Kivutha Kibwana, Alfred Mutua and Charity Ngilu on Friday met in Machakos for deliberations to jump-start the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB).

The meeting, chaired by Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, was also attended by the assembly speakers, majority and minority leaders from the three counties, Kamba Council of Elders and representatives of the clergy.

The bloc, the leaders said, will create a platform for joint development investments and resource mobilization for wealth creation to rollback the poverty ravaging the region.

“We have decided to provide direction to our people to create wealth and pull out of fear, poverty, want and backwardness that is often associated with our region.” said governor Ngilu.

“We have numerous shared resources which if well utilized can make a lasting solution to this region,” she said further.

Governor Kibwana termed SEKEB as a unique outfit because while similar blocs by other counties comprise mainly of governors, SEKEB incorporates elders, church leaders, professionals and all interests across the different social and economic sectors.

He said the outfit could be used as an alternative disputes resolution mechanism incase of leadership wrangles as has been witnessed in Makueni in the first cycle of devolution and currently in Machakos.

Governor Mutua said the bloc would provide a platform for all leaders from the region to work towards a common goal irrespective of the regional geopolitics.

Members of parliament, senators and members of county assembly will also be brought on board for inclusivity.

Kibwana hosts Dutch Envoy, Former CJ, on devolution support

Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Monday hosted Dutch ambassador to Kenya Frans Makken, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Ford Foundation’s Eastern Africa director Maurice Makoloo at Wote to share ideas on how to support devolution through mutual partnerships.

The leaders explored possible areas of partnerships with key focus on institutionalized civic education, public participation and mainstreaming the youth in development.

Dr Mutunga described Makueni as a beacon of progress for sustaining devolution owing to its robust civic space and public participation framework.

“Makueni is one big change story,” he said. “We are looking at the county as a focus for enhancing civic space because of the robust public participation and civic engagement of the citizens being rolled,” said the former CJ.

Governor Kibwana said it took a lot of struggle to achieve a successful civic education and public participation in the county as the first crop of members of county assembly vehemently opposed any proposed budgetary allocation on grounds that it would have done better on tangible projects such as water, roads and Early Childhood Development Centres.

He said it is out of the robust civic space that the citizens petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve the county government after it became ungovernable due to incessant fights between MCAs and the executive during the first cycle of devolution.

Kibwana said his government has opened its doors to partners such as Ford Foundation, adding that the government is only playing a catalyst role and then partnering with strategic partners for sustainable development.

Dutch ambassador to Kenya Frans Makken said innovative processes for development partnerships should be enhanced as donors are no longer dishing out monies but facilitating ideas that would translate into wealth creation and tangible social-economic achievements.

He said there are numerous companies, donors and other non state actors willing to engage in such like partnerships with counties such as Makueni which have demonstrated willingness to work with the public in a people-driven development model.

Mr. Makoloo said the foundation will consider working with Makueni to pilot a new youth program involving building a green rural economy driven by young people.

Kibwana meets top FAO officials

Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana on Monday hosted the Food Agricultural Organisation(FAO) officials where they deliberated on a number of possible partnership areas.

The delegation led by Dr. Mulat Demeke indicated that the organization is keen on supporting devolution with special focus on food,nutrition security and sustainable agriculture, governance and public participation.

Some of the possible partnership areas being looked at include small scale farm level irrigation where the agricultural organisation is interested in supporting both the national government and county level on policy development for environment and efficient cost.

FAO applauded Makueni’s public participation model hinting, the organization could support  its implementation   in the other counties.

Prof Kibwana also held bilateral talks with the Danish ambassador Mette Knudsen, Grundfos CEO Mr.Mads Nipper to discuss water solutions for Makueni County.

The Danish government in partnership with the county and the World Vision has funded several water points in Makueni  using AGTAP, a systemized automated teller machine.
The ambassador will on Tuesday tour Makueni county to inspect various projects.

Mwau in talks with NGEC on collaboration

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) today held a consultative meeting on possible areas of collaboration between Makueni County and the Commission.

The commission chairman Dr Joyce Mwikali who was accompanied by Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau said the two institutions would partner on a number of relevant areas.

The DG requested for technical support for the development of a guiding tool for SGBV and gender mainstreaming in public participation,development processes, budgeting and implementation that will eventually lead to the creation of a mainstreaming policy.

A memorandum of understanding will be developed and signed during the official commissioning of the Makueni Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre scheduled for October this year.

NGEC Commissioners Dr. Gumati, Florence, Nyokabi and the Ag. Chief Executive Officer Sora Katelo noted that Makueni is the first county to have initiated dialogue on gender and inclusion.

Executive Committee Member for Gender Culture and Social services Dr. Geoffrey Makau was also present.