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NDUKUMA DAM BRINGS RELIABLE WATER SUPPLY TO MUVAU/KIKUMINI RESIDENTS

Residents of Mumbuni, Kwa Kathoka, Kaseve, Kwa Mulele and Senda in Muvau Ward are experiencing a new era of reliable water access thanks to the rehabilitated Ndukuma Dam, which was desilted in 2022/2023 by the Makueni County Dam Construction Unit with support from the National Youth Service (NYS).

For years, households in the area relied on unpredictable and often unsafe water sources. Today, the restored dam has eased the burden of fetching water, with many families reporting shorter distances, steady supply, and improved hygiene.

Beyond water for domestic use, the dam has also become a source of nutritional well-being for the community. To boost local food security, 5,000 fingerlings were stocked in the reservoir, opening opportunities for small-scale fishing that now supplements household diets and supports livelihoods.

Looking ahead, the county government is preparing to rehabilitate the existing water distribution network to serve 16 water points, a move expected to expand coverage and reach more residents across the ward.

#WauniWaKwikaNesaNaUlungalu

#LastMileWaterConnectivity

HOW DATA IS POWERING MAKUENI’S DEVELOPMENT VISION

Did you know that data can define the development path of a community? And did you also know that Makueni has been quietly steering its decisions using a robust, people-driven data system that begins at the cluster level, a model widely celebrated as participatory budgeting?

Annually, the Department of Finance has deployed teams to clusters across the county to collect data directly from the public and county staff working at the grassroots. These sessions capture real community priorities, challenges, and insights that ultimately shape key development blue prints including the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).

In partnership with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the county compiles and analyzes this data before subjecting it to validation by data producers from county departments and semi-autonomous government agencies. The validated findings are then refined into the County Statistical Abstract, an official publication launched annually as the county’s authoritative data resource.

This data is instrumental in tracking progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), monitoring county performance, and informing the next phase of development planning. It provides a clear picture of what is working, what needs improvement, and where resources should be directed.

According to Acting Director in charge of Socio-Economic Planning, Stanlaus Matheka, the Statistical Abstract also supports the domestication of national data from KNBS.

In 2024, Makueni was recognized as the best-performing devolved unit in implementing the SDGs, a prestigious title the county has held for six consecutive years.

As the conversation around development deepens, next week,we will explore what sustainable Development Goals really mean for communities and why every resident should care about them.

Before then,tell us, how many SDGs do you know and which ones matter to you?

ATHI–TUNGUNI WATER PROJECT ENDS YEARS OF THIRST IN KIBWEZI WEST

The completion of Athi–Tunguni–Kilema water project has brought long-awaited relief to thousands of households across Kikumbulyu North, Makindu and Nguumo wards, ending years of reliance on raw, untreated water from River Athi.

For decades, families walked long distances to fetch unsafe water, exposing themselves to waterborne diseases and the daily burden of hauling heavy containers. The water is now pumped from the river, treated and distributed through a 27-km pipeline.

For Eunice of Mukononi village, the project is nothing short of life changing. She recalls drawing water from a shallow well dug at the base of Mukononi River, an exposed pit whose high sandy walls could collapse at any moment. That was her everyday reality. Today, she says devolution has finally made meaning to her and fellow residents, as clean water now flows safely to their community.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr says the project will be expanded to cover a total of five wards.

UYI DAM: THE EPITOME OF CHANGE IN MASONGALENI WARD.

The long-awaited filling of the UYII Dam to full capacity has officially marked a turning point for the people of Masongaleni. For years, residents endured the exhausting 10-kilometre journey to River Athi, braving heat and hardship in search of water for their families.

Thanks to a collaborative rehabilitation initiative by the County Government and the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), clean and reliable water has finally been brought closer to the community.

For mothers and children—who carried the heavy burden of fetching water for generations—today is a dream fulfilled. The days of backbreaking treks and exposure to waterborne diseases are giving way to a future of dignity, safety, and hope.

This milestone brings lasting relief to Mukange, Kyumani, and several other water-scarce areas across Masongaleni Ward, offering a sustainable solution to one of the region’s most persistent challenges.

MAKUENI AND TMA PROGRESS A NEW DIGITAL PLATFORM TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURE

The Government of Makueni County, through the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development (DAFLCD), together with Trademark Africa (TMA), held a meeting to advance the Kilimo Makueni Management Information System (MIS).

The platform is a new digital tool created to make agricultural services easier, faster, and more organized for farmers and officers.

The Kilimo Makueni MIS https://kilimo.makueni.go.ke brings farmer registration, extension services, agricultural programs, farm mapping and management dashboards into one simple and accessible system.

Its main aim is to improve how farmers get information, strengthen field work, and help the county make better decisions using accurate data.

Accompanied by Education and ICT CECM Japheth Mang’oka, Agriculture CECM Liz Muli explained that the platform will give farmers quick access to advice, updates, and county programs.

The CECM noted that extension officers will work more efficiently with digital reporting tools, while partners will use reliable, up-to-date data to strengthen coordination and align their support with county priorities.

With this improved information flow from the field to the Department, the county will also be able to rely on real-time insights to plan better, allocate resources wisely and monitor progress across the agricultural sector.

The meeting was attended by Chief Officers Dr. Victoria Kyallo, Japheth Kiminza, and TMA’s Rachael Wangeci.

MAKUENI SETS GROUND FOR STRATEGIC YOUTH PARTNERSHIP WITH PASGR RESEARCH ORGANIZATION

Makueni County has kicked off talks with the Partnership for African Social & Governance Research (PASGR) to strengthen capacity among young people and anchor youth programmes in evidence-based governance.

PASGR, a non-state organization operating in 26 African countries, builds youth resilience by aligning youth initiatives with evolving governance systems through policy formulation, impact measurement, and mentorship.

On Wednesday, County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Eng. Sebastian Kyoni led a delegation of youth officers in a meeting with senior PASGR officials at their Nairobi offices to forge a working partnership.

The county seeks to collaborate with PASGR in developing a comprehensive youth policy, a youth empowerment strategy, and integrating gender perspectives into food systems, gender-based education, and agribusiness, marking a decisive step toward a more informed and empowered generation in Makueni.

CHRISTAN AID’S INTEGRITY AND ACTION EARN A NOD FROM MULILI.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Wednesday commended Christian Aid for its continued partnership with Makueni County in advancing key development initiatives.

Mulili, who spoke during a partners’ dinner in Nairobi marking the launch of the organization’s East and Southern Africa multi-country cluster, recalled the swift support Christian Aid offered in 2023 to assist residents displaced by the El Niño-induced mudslides.

She emphasized the organization’s strong values of transparency, participation, and equity , qualities she said have earned Christian Aid a reputation as a trustworthy steward of the resources placed in its hands.

The organization’s new model aims to build a renewed foundation for global development, one that restores dignity and purpose, particularly in humanitarian interventions.

The dinner drew participation from the organization’s development partners, representatives of the national and county governments, clergy, and civil society groups.

NEW NGAAKAA HEALTH FACILITY SET TO OPEN ITS DOORS SOON.

Residents of Ngaakaa will soon benefit from a new state-of-the-art Level 3 health facility developed through a partnership between the County Government of Makueni and World Vision.

The county is finalizing the equipping process ahead of the facility’s official opening. Once operational, the facility will offer a modern maternity wing, a fully equipped laboratory, an administration block, procedure rooms, a pharmacy and a records office.

The development also includes installation of solar power and integration of the Kiboko–Twaandu water project to ensure reliable access to clean water.

The project forms part of governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s administration’s broader push to strengthen healthcare through strategic collaborations.

For instance, Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital is in the final stages of completing a new maternity wing delivered with support from the Safaricom Foundation, while discussions to have a new maternity block have been finalized for Kibwezi East Sub-County Hospital where another maternity wing is expected to significantly uplift the facility.

These investments signal a continued commitment by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. to expand quality healthcare access across Makueni County.

MAKUENI SHINES AT NATIONAL STATISTICS CONFERENCE WITH GRASSROOTS DATA MODEL

Makueni County once again captured national attention on Tuesday after demonstrating an innovative data collection & utilization model that informs participatory planning and budgeting from the sub-ward level through to wards, sub-counties, and the county headquarters.

The model impressed delegates attending the 2025 National Statistics Conference in Nairobi.

Chief Officer for Socio-Planning, Budget and Revenue, Mutua Boniface, highlighted how the county statistical system has strengthened the county’s ability to gather and manage accurate data.

He addressed delegates as a panelist, among them Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata and permanent Secretary the State Department for Planning, Dr.Bonface Makhoha outlining how technology is transforming decision-making processes within counties.

Mutua emphasized the importance of integrating digital tools including automation and digitization in county processes.

Makueni has been recognized by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics as a model county in preparing annual County Stastical Abstracts (CSAs) as well as disaggregated data from the ward level upwards.

The two-day conference is themed “Leveraging Innovations in Data and Statistics to Promote a Just, Peaceful, Inclusive, and Prosperous Society for Africans.”

MAKUENI VOWS TO LIFT ULTRA-POOR AS KENYA LAUNCHES NATIONAL STRATEGY

Makueni County has reaffirmed its determination to eradicate extreme poverty, declaring that no resident will be left behind in the push toward Sustainable Development Goal 1.

Speaking at the official launch of Kenya’s National Ultra-Poor Graduation Strategy on Tuesday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili highlighted the county’s poverty rate of 39.7 percent and positioned the new national framework as a perfect fit with Makueni’s long-standing focus on inclusive growth, social protection, and economic empowerment.

Representing Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., Mulili announced that the county is already piloting the graduation programme with significant budgetary allocations, including dedicated support for persons with disabilities from the poorest households.

She further pledged county co-financing for targeted interventions aimed at strengthening local social safety nets and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the ultra-poor.

The event was also attended by PS state department for Social Protection and Senior Affairs Joseph Motari, Taita Taveta governor Andrew Mwandime and County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni.