News

MAKUENI BETS ON SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TO ATTRACT GLOBAL INVESTORS AT KONZA.

Makueni County is steadily positioning itself as a model for inclusive economic transformation through strategic partnerships aimed at boosting investment, industrial growth and job creation.

On Wednesday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili paid a courtesy call on a global fashion brand investing with Konza Technopolis as part of efforts to strengthen the county’s investor-friendly agenda.

The high-level stakeholder engagement also brought together private sector players in a renewed push to unlock employment opportunities, skills development and industrial expansion.

Mulili said the county government is intensifying collaboration with investors establishing operations at the innovation hub to ensure residents of Makueni benefit from the emerging opportunities.

Among the investors is global fashion brand Lucky DJ X, whose products are marketed across America and Europe. The company is currently onboarding local residents in tailoring, ironing, fashion design, warehousing and store management, creating fresh employment opportunities for youth in the county.

In addition, a Chinese investor setting up a packaging manufacturing industry at Konza is seeking local labour, further reinforcing Makueni’s growing reputation as a preferred destination for investment and industrial expansion.

The engagements come at a time when Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s administration is scaling up investment in technical skills development to ensure local residents are adequately prepared to benefit from emerging opportunities.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO Jr. SWORN IN AS MEMBER OF KENYA LAW REFORM COMMISSION

H.E. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., who also serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, was on Wednesday sworn in as a Member of the Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC). His appointment followed his nomination by the Council of Governors and subsequent gazettement by Attorney General Dorcas Oduor through Gazette Notice No. 5589 dated 17 April 2026.

Governor Mutula was sworn in alongside Ms. Annette Imbuhila Wangia and will serve a five-year term on the Commission.

The swearing-in ceremony was witnessed by Chief Justice Martha Koome, who congratulated the Commissioners on their appointment and underscored the importance of fully realizing the aspirations and objectives of the 2010 Constitution for the benefit of all Kenyans.

His appointment is expected to significantly contribute to the advancement of legal reforms that support effective devolution, social equity, and justice for all.

MAKUENI CHAMPIONS AGROECOLOGY TO BOOST FOOD SECURITY AND RESILIENT FARMING

The Department of Agriculture in collaboration with development partners, on Wednesday held the Makueni Farmers’ Field Day at Kee Ward, bringing together more than 300 farmers for sensitization on agroecology farming practices aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and food security.

The field day, themed 𝘈𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘚𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘴, 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, brought together farmers, agricultural officers and stakeholders to showcase environmentally friendly farming methods that reduce dependence on harmful chemicals while improving farm productivity.

During the event, farmers were trained on the use of organic manure, mulching, crop rotation, intercropping, natural pest control and water harvesting technologies to improve soil health and conserve moisture.

Speaking during the field day, County Executive Committee Member Damaris Kavoi encouraged farmers to embrace agroecology practices, noting that the approach plays a key role in restoring soil fertility, conserving the environment and enhancing food production through safe and sustainable farming methods.

The event was attended by Chief Officer for Agriculture Japheth Kiminza, who noted that the adoption of agroecology practices would help lower production costs by reducing reliance on expensive farm inputs while improving yields and soil health. He reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to supporting farmers through strengthened agricultural extension services and the promotion of climate-smart agriculture across the county.

Key partners including Pelum Kenya, Biovision Africa Trust, Effective IPM Association, INADES-Formation and Agroecology Fund emphasized the need for farmers to embrace sustainable farming systems to enhance food security, improve nutrition and build resilience against climate change.

MAKUENI WINS PRAISE FOR CLEAN AUDIT DURING CIDP REVIEW.

The GIZ Regional Advisor Maurice Owaka, has applauded Makueni County for demonstrating strong governance and accountability, attributes that earned the county recognition from the Office of the Auditor -General through a clean audit report in the last financial year.

Owaka commended the county for the achievement, underscoring the importance of the ongoing mid term review in assessing development progress and generating recommendations aimed at improving the implementation of the county Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) for the remaining period.

He spoke while addressing sector Working groups currently undertaking the mid term review for the (CIDP 111) covering the period between 2023 and 2027.

County Treasury CECM Damaris Kavoi urged the team to sustain the momentum, emphasizing that performance management and the CIDP are closely linked. She noted that the CIDP serves as the county’s main development blueprint, while performance management measures whether departments are delivering on the commitments outlined in the plan.

Kavoi said the ongoing review exercise provides Makueni County with an opportunity to assess not only completed projects, but also the effectiveness of performance contracting, monitoring systems, accountability structures and overall service delivery outcomes across departments.

The exercise is being supported by GIZ, with the aim of enhancing service delivery and promoting transparency in governance.

MAKUENI INTENSIFIES CLIMATE ADAPTATION THROUGH WATER AND AGRICULTURE PROJECTS

Makueni County Climate Change Officers on Tuesday inspected the ongoing construction of the Kikuu–Kawala Water Project, a key climate resilience investment aimed at improving water security and livelihoods in Nzakika Ward. The inspection team was accompanied by the area MCA, Francis Mutuku.

The project is designed to address persistent water scarcity and agricultural challenges while strengthening environmental sustainability and community resilience to drought.

The Kikuu–Kawala Water Project is part of a wider county climate action initiative being implemented across Makueni County under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action(FLLoCA) Program. The county government is currently implementing 17 integrated climate resilience projects in 17 wards, focusing on water, agriculture and environmental conservation.

The projects are collectively valued at more than KSh 200 million and are expected to strengthen communities’ capacity to adapt to climate change while supporting sustainable development.

NYANDARUA DELEGATION BENCHMARKS MAKUENI’S DIGITAL AND MATERNAL HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS

The Government of Makueni County on Wednesday hosted a high-level delegation from Nyandarua County for a benchmarking visit at Makueni County Referral Hospital, as counties continue to embrace knowledge sharing in strengthening healthcare systems.

The delegation, led by Nyandarua CECM for Health Juliana Tsinanga alongside Chief Officers and Medical Superintendents, toured the facility to learn about governance and administration of the Level 5 hospital, management of clinical services, maternal healthcare and specialized treatment areas including oncology.

A key area of interest was the Proximie technology, an innovative digital health platform enabling doctors at Makueni County Referral Hospital to remotely guide, train and support other health facilities in clinical procedures and specialized care.

Makueni CECM for Health Services Joyce Mutua noted that the benchmarking visit provided an opportunity for health professionals from both counties to exchange knowledge and strengthen service delivery systems aimed at improving patient care.

Nyandarua Health Services CECM Juliana Tsinanga applauded Makueni for its strides in digital health and maternal healthcare, particularly efforts that have contributed to reducing maternal mortality linked to Postpartum hemorrhage. She also commended the county’s openness, collaborative approach and innovative strategies in retaining healthcare workers within the system.

MAKUENI PUSHES GOVERNANCE REFORMS TO STRENGTHEN RURAL WATER SERVICES

The Government of Makueni County has intensified efforts to strengthen sustainability and accountability in rural water service delivery through a high-level engagement bringing together the Department of Water, Water Service Providers and the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB).

The meeting, led by Ag. CECM for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Japheth Mang’oka and Chief Officer David Makau, focused on reforms aimed at ensuring community water schemes operate professionally, transparently and in compliance with regulatory standards.

Key discussions centered on licensing of rural water schemes, tariff approvals, delegated service provision agreements and accountability measures to enhance efficiency in water management.

Held under the K-WASH Programme, the forum also reviewed the performance of Water Service Providers in the county and explored sustainable management models expected to improve operations and expand access to clean, reliable water for rural communities

MITENDEU SECONDARY SCHOOL CELEBRATES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Top students were on Saturday feted during Mitendeu Secondary School prize-giving day presided over by the County Executive Committee Member for ICT, Education and Internship, Japheth Mang’oka.

During the ceremony, the school’s top candidates from the 2025 KCSE class, who attained impressive results, were recognized and awarded.

Continuing students were also honored for their dedication and outstanding academic performance in various categories.

Mang’oka commended the students for their hard work, discipline, and determination, noting that education remains a key pillar in transforming communities.

Chief Officer Irene Makau, encouraged the learners to remain focused on their studies and make good use of the county government’s continued support towards education and skills development.

The event brought together education stakeholders, teachers, parents, and members of the community.

MAKUENI DEEPENS DIGITAL HEALTH PUSH WITH PROMIXIE EXPANSION DEAL

Makueni County has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mawingu Foundation to expand internet connectivity to sub-county hospitals, paving the way for wider deployment of Proximie’s digital healthcare technology across the county.

The agreement will strengthen last-mile internet connectivity in health facilities, allowing Makueni to scale the Proximie platform from the Makueni County Referral Hospital to hospitals in remote parts of the county.

The move is expected to improve access to specialized healthcare services by enabling doctors and specialists to support medical teams remotely, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.

Makueni became the first county in Africa to adopt Proximie technology in its public healthcare system in 2022. The platform enables real-time remote collaboration during medical procedures through live video, audio and augmented reality tools, allowing specialists to guide surgeries, offer consultations and mentor clinicians from different locations.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. said the expansion reflects the county’s commitment to using technology to bridge gaps in healthcare access, particularly for residents in undeserved areas.

He noted that the system has helped reduce unnecessary referrals while improving training, data protection and the overall quality of care in county health facilities.

The signing was witnessed by Proximie’s Head of Global Health, Dr. Shannon Shibata-Germanos, who praised Governor Mutula for pioneering the adoption of the technology in Kenya’s public health sector and for leading efforts to scale the innovation across the county.

MBOONI MANGO FARMERS RALLY BEHIND COLLECTIVE MARKETING

The Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Ahadi Achievers Empowerment – CBO on Thursday convened over 100 mango farmers from Mbooni Subcounty for a sensitization forum aimed at strengthening collaboration in mango farming and marketing.

Ahadi Achievers, a community-based organization championing climate action and sustainable farming, is spearheading initiatives to empower farmers through environmental conservation and improved productivity.

The programme also creates awareness on Farmer Producer Organizations through structured SACCO formation.

Addressing the farmers, CECM Damaris Kavoi noted that mango production remains a key economic driver in the county and urged farmers to unite in production and market access.

During the forum, farmers were sensitized on the importance of working together under a common farming goal and agreed to form a structured organization to strengthen modern farming practices and improve their bargaining power in the market.

This joint forum reflects the county’s commitment to empowering local farmers and advancing sustainable development goals.