News

LAUNCH OF FRUIT FLY TRAPS TO INCREASE MANGO PRODUCTION

Mango farmers across Makueni County will reap big from a timely intervention as over 15,000 fruit fly traps, donated by the European Union, are set to be distributed to combat the destructive pest.

The consignment, received last week by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, was provided through TradeMark Africa and the East Africa Marketing Development Authority.

The traps use pheromones to lure fruit flies into a chamber lined with biopesticide, killing them instantly. Unlike heavy pesticide use that harms both people and the environment, these traps offer a safe and sustainable solution.

Speaking during the Tuesday launch at Kikumini/Muvau Ward, Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli noted that fruit flies have long reduced mango yields and farmer incomes.

She said the county is determined to protect farmers’ produce and boost food security.

In a joint statement, TradeMark Africa Country Director Lillian Mwai and Agriculture Chief Officer Dr. Victoria Kyalo told farmers that the fruit fly trap distribution is part of a wider pest management program designed to strengthen horticulture value chains and raise farmers’ incomes.

The traps, coming at the critical mango management season, promise healthier fruits, bigger harvests and stronger access to premium markets for farmers.

The event was attended by area MCA Elizabeth Kawembe, Agriculture Chief Officer Dr. Victoria Kyalo and EAMDA CEO Eunice Ngina among others.

GOVERNOR MUTULA PROMISES JUSTICE FOR LYNCHED BODA BODA RIDER.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Monday expressed shock at the brutal murder of boda boda rider, Sammy Sikuku in Kibwezi town and promised that the killers will be punished.

He was addressing boda boda riders from Kibwezi, Emali and Makindu in his office protesting the murder. He said no one had the right to take someone’s life.

The riders said Sikuku was set on fire and killed at the instigation of a business woman in a case of mistaken identity and called for a speedy trial for the trader who is in police custody.

The case is being heard at the Makueni Law Courts.

Governor Mutula, who was accompanied by his deputy, Lucy Mulili, said the County will provide a lawyer for the family.

Kikumbulyu South MCA Jades Kalunda Kalunda accompanied the riders.

MAKUENI ONBOARDS 49 INTERNS, PROMISES MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

The County Government of Makueni has welcomed 49 new interns into its ranks, marking another key step in equipping young people with practical skills for the job market.

The cohort, comprising 28 men and 21 women, including three persons living with disabilities will be attached to various departments to learn from seasoned professionals.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, while officiating the induction meeting, lauded the programme as a launchpad for the interns’ careers, noting that it is tailored to give them the hands-on experience needed to thrive in the workforce.

Mulili further announced plans to re-advertise an additional 49 internship positions in departments that received low applications during the recent recruitment drive.

Among those who attended the event were CECM Education, ICT and Internship, Japheth Mang’oka, Chief Officer for Education Irene Makau, and Chief Officer for Budget, Socio-Economic Planning and Revenue Boniface Mutua.

MAKUENI COUNTY OFFICIALS CONDUCT INSPECTION OF ELEPHANT EXCLUSIVE ELECTRIC FENCE IN TSAVO EAST.

The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works, Housing, and Energy, Eng. Peter Mumo, on Thursday led an inspection tour of the 93 km elephant exclusive electric fence along the Makueni County–Tsavo East National Park border.

The visit formed part of the annual maintenance verification exercise conducted by the department. The inspection aimed at ensuring the fence continues to protect communities and farmlands from wildlife.

Eng. Mumo reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to guaranteeing that the fence operates at 100% efficiency throughout the year to safeguard livelihoods and boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security.

He was accompanied by the county energy technical team and Mtito Andei Ward MCA, Francis Mulwa.

GOVERNOR MUTULA COMMISSIONS YUMBUNI BOREHOLE WATER PROJECT IN NGUU/MASUMBA WARD

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, flanked by Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) Country Director Christian Schniepper, on Thursday commissioned the Yumbuni Borehole Water Project in Nguu/Masumba Ward.

The project, implemented through a partnership between the County Government of Makueni, the local community, and WHH, brings immense relief to residents who have long struggled to access clean and reliable water.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s administration has forged strategic collaborations with WHH and other partners to drive universal water coverage and the Last Mile Water Connectivity.

Under these collaborations, WHH has so far completed 14 water projects since August 2022, with two more scheduled for implementation before July 2026.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, MCA Daniel Musau, Water CEC Eng. John Kieti, Devolution CEC Nicholas Nzioka, and Assembly Minority Leader Jades Kalunda were among the leaders present at the event.

MAKUENI ON HIGH ALERT AS MPOX CASES SURGE

Health officials in Makueni County are urging residents to remain vigilant as cases of Mpox continue to rise, placing the region among the most affected counties in the country.

According to County Chief Officer for Health, Dr. Harvey Mulei, the disease is spreading at an alarming rate, with new infections reported across the county.

He emphasized the need for residents to exercise caution in their daily interactions to curb further transmission.

The county epidemiologist, Dr. Pius Mutuku, confirmed that Makueni has so far recorded 36 cases, ranking it fourth nationally after Mombasa (193), Busia (69) and Nairobi (56).

He revealed that 80% of the local cases are concentrated in Kibwezi West sub-county, particularly along the busy Nairobi–Mombasa highway with Emali town emerging as the hotspot.

Since the first case was detected in July last year, the disease surveillance and public health team has been conducting contact tracing and collecting samples from suspected patients.

Dr. Mulei noted that while healthcare workers in the county have been trained to manage the disease with the support of partners, stronger interventions from the national government,local and international partners are urgently needed to contain the outbreak.

He added that plans are underway to scale up public awareness campaigns and establish isolation centres for confirmed cases.

Makueni County is also working closely with the North Star Alliance, to provide targeted health services to truckers, community and sex workers at Emali.

Clinical officer Kennedy Kibiwott from the organization highlighted that their peer-led model has played a critical role in reaching key populations that would otherwise avoid seeking screening and treatment.

NEW HOPE FOR 220 MAKUENI RESIDENTS AS THEY RECEIVE MODERN WHEELCHAIRS

Over 220 persons with mobility challenges in Makueni have received modern and customised wheelchairs in a life-changing initiative spearheaded by the County Government of Makueni in partnership with Hope Mobility Kenya. The support is anchored on a 5-year working partnership aimed at enhancing the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities

For the beneficiaries, the wheelchairs are a much-needed reprieve, enabling them to move with ease and perform many daily tasks unaided. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s administration continues to champion inclusivity, ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the county’s development journey.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Hope Mobility Kenya Executive Director Jack Muthui and Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni presided over the handing ceremony on Wednesday.

In the last financial year, the county government issued 800 wheelchairs, 400 of which were donated by Hope Mobility.

Looking ahead, plans are underway to transform the Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre into a Centre of Excellence for modification of assistive devices, positioning it as a hub for supporting persons with disabilities across the Lower Eastern region.

CHAK PARTNERS WITH MAKUENI TO BOOST MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES.

The Department of Health Services in Makueni has joined hands with the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) to roll out a comprehensive reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) project aimed at transforming healthcare delivery in the county.

The partnership seeks to expand universal access to RMNCAH and nutrition services through gender-responsive, inclusive, and sustainable health programs that will significantly improve health outcomes.

In Makueni, CHAK plans to scale up the introduction of innovative maternal and child health products while enhancing access to high-impact interventions.

The initiative is expected to contribute to a sharp reduction in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) and neonatal mortality rate (NMR).

According to Rhodah Njeru, CHAK’s Technical Advisor on RMNCH, the organization is keen on building the capacity of healthcare workers to align their practices with national MNCH guidelines, particularly in the management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and neonatal care.

Among the innovations CHAK is introducing in Makueni include:

•PPH management bundle and calibrated drapes.

• IV Iron (Ferric Carboxymaltose): A 15-minute, 1,000mg intravenous injection administered once during pregnancy, ideally in the second trimester, to address moderate and severe anemia.

• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): A critical respiratory support technology for premature infants, often used alongside surfactant therapy to assist babies struggling with breathing difficulties.

Welcoming the partnership, Teresia Maweu, Makueni’s Deputy County Reproductive Health Coordinator, pledged the county’s full support.She said the intervention will go a long way in safeguarding the lives of mothers and children.

MAKUENI MOVES TO STRENGTHEN CERVICAL CANCER PREVENTION AND CARE.

The Department of Health Services, in partnership with the University of Nairobi through the ACES Fellowship Kenya on Women’s Health and Cervical Cancer Prevention, on Tuesday convened a high-level policy engagement forum aimed at stepping up the fight against cervical cancer in Makueni.

The forum, held in the county, brought together key stakeholders to review current service delivery, identify existing barriers, and chart practical strategies to strengthen prevention, early detection, and management of the disease.

Members of the County Assembly Health Committee , Elizabeth Muthike, Brian Nzoka, Budget Committee Chair Hon. Denis Musyoka, and Elizabeth Mutindi joined the County Health Management Team in robust discussions that generated actionable recommendations.

Stakeholders praised Makueni for its progress in cancer management but emphasized the need to scale up public awareness and advocacy on cervical cancer screening.

They noted that increasing access to timely screening and treatment would be critical in reducing preventable deaths among women.

NZAUI/KILILI/KALAMBA FARMERS GET CRITICAL SKILLS ON MANGO MANAGEMENT

Over 200 mango farmers in Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba Ward have received timely training on mango management, coming at a crucial flowering season when pest control, proper nutrition, and orchard care determine the year’s harvest.

The Tuesday session, graced by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli and CO Dr. Victoria Kyalo, equipped farmers with practical skills on flowering care, pest and disease prevention, fruit thinning and soil nutrition; essential steps to improve both the quality and quantity of mango production.

The training, also attended by sub-county administrators, agro-input suppliers, mango off-takers and value chain leaders, was anchored on three key goals: helping farmers adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), linking them with off-takers for binding contracts, and connecting them to reliable input suppliers.

So far, similar trainings have been rolled out in Kako/Waia, Masongaleni, Kikumbulyu South, Ivinza, Thange, Emali/Mulala, and Mavindini wards, with Nzakika cluster alone registering 2,080 farmers.

More sessions are planned for Kalawa, Ukia, Kaskeu, Kisau/Kiteta, and Tulimani wards in the coming weeks, ensuring wider farmer coverage ahead of the harvest season.