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MAKUENI RALLIES PARTNERS TO ACCELERATE MATERNAL AND NEWBORN HEALTH INITIATIVE

The Department of Health Services on Friday convened a Reproductive Health and Family Planning Technical Working Group meeting to develop a coordinated plan for accelerating the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) initiative across Makueni County.

The meeting brought together key development partners, including Jhpiego, the Kenya Red Cross, Jacaranda Health, Women Engaged in Development, Anita Mbinya Foundation, VSO, Makueni Development Trust and Vitamin Angels, to strengthen collaborative efforts aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths.

Participants agreed on several priority actions to guide implementation of the initiative. These include establishing an EWENE Steering Committee to oversee implementation, strengthening Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), improving emergency obstetric care and referral systems, enhancing access to essential health commodities and blood products, and ensuring that mothers receive postpartum family planning counselling and services before being discharged from health facilities.

The agreed interventions are expected to enhance coordination among stakeholders and improve the quality of maternal and newborn healthcare services across the county.

HUDUMA MASHINANI PHASE II BEGINS IN THANGE WARD

Hundreds of residents of Thange Ward on Thursday turned up at Kasasule as the County Government of Makueni launched Phase II of the Huduma Mashinani programme, bringing key government services closer to wananchi.

Residents accessed services including national ID registration, birth and death certificates, voter registration, KRA PIN processing, HELB support, police abstracts and NSSF registration.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Sebastian Kyoni said the second phase followed the successful completion of Phase I, which served more than 80,000 residents across the county.

Among those served was 80-year-old Tabitha Kinyanzii of Muumoni Village, who, alongside three other residents, began the process of acquiring a national identity card for the first time.

The programme is one of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s flagship initiatives aimed at improving access to government services.

MUTULA, LSK OFFICIALS FORGE PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday met officials of the newly elected Law Society of Kenya (LSK) South Eastern Branch and pledged closer collaboration to improve access to justice and legal services in the county.

The delegation, led by Branch Chairperson Priscillah Kioko and Secretary Doreen Mwau, discussed legal aid, expansion of Huduma Mashinani services, settlement of pending bills, land succession disputes and plans to secure land at Matiliku for the construction of a court.

Governor Mutula urged lawyers to embrace a collective approach to addressing community challenges, saying stronger cooperation between the county government and the legal fraternity would enhance service delivery and promote social justice for residents.

GOVERNOR MUTULA OPENS EASTERN REGION SECONDARY SCHOOL GAMES IN MAKUENI

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday opened the Eastern Region Secondary School Term Two Games at Makueni Boys High School, where hundreds of students are competing in a three-day tournament.

The games feature football, volleyball, rugby, badminton and other disciplines, with top teams set to qualify for the national championships.

Governor Mutula urged participants to uphold discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship, describing school games as a key platform for nurturing future athletes.

He said the county had deployed ambulances and medical personnel from Makueni County Referral Hospital and Kambi Mawe Dispensary to provide emergency services throughout the tournament.

The governor was accompanied by County Executive Committee Members Eng. Sebastian Kyoni and Nicholas Nzioka, among other county officials.

RASTAFARIAN YOUTH LEADER CHAMPIONS CLIMATE ACTION IN TULIMANI.

𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐊𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐚, popularly known as 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘀, the youth representative in the Ngoano Sand Dam Project Management Committee (PMC) at Nthaani Village, Tulimani Ward.

His election by the community was unanimous, a clear vote of confidence in the role of young people in driving local development and climate action. As the youth representative, Muras has pledged to champion the successful implementation of the Ngoano Sand Dam Project and rally fellow youth to embrace climate-smart farming, leveraging the reliable water supply that the project will provide to build resilient livelihoods.

The KSh 10 million project, funded by the Government of Makueni County through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme, is expected to transform livelihoods by providing year-round water for domestic use and irrigation, while supporting climate-smart agriculture through the establishment of coffee, macadamia, and Juncao fodder demonstration farms.

Construction is set to commence this week, marking the beginning of another community-led investment in climate resilience and sustainable development.

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬: Community site handover and the location where the Ngoano Sand Dam will be constructed.

MAKUENI PRAISED BY SENATE COMMITTEE OVER PRUDENT USE OF SPECIAL FUNDS

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Tuesday earned praise from senators after appearing before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee to respond to audit queries and update members on the implementation of previous recommendations.

Senators commended Makueni County for the efficient utilization of Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) funds, citing the county’s prudent financial management .

Governor Mutula told the committee that the county was resolving land succession disputes affecting four parcels hosting the Makueni Fruit Development and Marketing Authority, a move expected to secure ownership of the property.

On the Makueni County Empowerment Fund, formerly known as Tetheka, the governor said the county had operationalized new regulations, was recovering debts inherited under the previous structure and had begun piloting the new model in 41 groups.

Senators also lauded the automation of the fund, describing Makueni as a benchmark in the management and implementation of county empowerment programmes.

The committee was chaired by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.

COUNTY FILLS KEY VACANCIES AS OFFICIALS TAKE OATH OF OFFICE

Irene Nduku Makau was sworn-in on Monday as Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism, filling a vacancy left by the death of Sonia Nzilani last year.

County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa administered the oath in a ceremony witnessed by Gov. Mutula Kilonzo Jr., Deputy Gov. Lucy Mulili, county executive members, members of the County Public Service Board and MCAs.

She takes office after a competitive recruitment process and approval by the Makueni County Assembly.

Also sworn in were Julius Mwania Kinyungu as chief officer for Agriculture and Eng. David Makau Ndolo as chief officer for Infrastructure, Transport and Public Works.

Members of the newly established Mbooni Kee Municipality Board, Penninah Nduku Muendo, Alexander Kyalo Munyao, Jones Makau Mutisya and Caleb Mbithi Vokila , also took the oath of office.

The county government also issued promotion letters to several staff members during the ceremony.

The governor urged the new officials to begin work immediately and consult the county leadership whenever necessary.

MUTULA URGES CLOSER COLLABORATION TO PROTECT WATER PROJECTS FROM VANDALISM

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has called for stronger collaboration between county governments and water agencies to safeguard public water projects from vandalism, saying the destruction of infrastructure continues to undermine investments in the sector.

The governor made the remarks on Monday when he met the leadership of the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency (TAWWDA) led by Board Chairperson, Regina Ndambuki and Chief Executive Officer Sammy Lemunke Naporos.

Mutula said security should be incorporated into the design and implementation of water projects to protect critical infrastructure from sabotage and ensure investments deliver lasting benefits to residents.

The governor also urged the agency to fast-track the development of a sewerage system for Wote Town, warning that delays could trigger serious public health challenges once the government’s Affordable Housing Programme becomes operational.

The TAWWDA delegation is in Makueni to oversee the implementation of key water and sanitation projects aimed at improving access to clean water across the county.Among the flagship projects is the construction of a reinforced concrete weir on the Kaiti River, a 400-cubic-metre sump, infiltration galleries, submersible pumps, a 20-kilometre water distribution pipeline and 1,000 household water connections.

The Agency also handed over two motorcycles, office equipment and 10 smart water meters to the Makueni County Government to strengthen water service delivery and improve administration.

MULIMA EARTH DAM TO DRIVE CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN MBOONI WARD

Mulima Earth Dam and its auxiliary water treatment facility in Mbooni Ward are set to anchor a transformative climate resilience initiative under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme.

Through the Climate Change Unit, the Government of Makueni County has launched the Mulima Water Distribution and Livelihood Restoration Project, an integrated investment designed to enhance water security, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods.

The project will distribute treated water from the existing Syiluni distribution tank to five water kiosks and two communal water points, expanding access to safe, potable water under the #LastMileWaterConnectivity programme.

To boost climate-smart agricultural production in the horticulture-rich ward, the project will stock the dam with 10,000 fish fingerlings to improve household nutrition and diversify livelihoods. It will also establish demonstration farms for coffee and macadamia, alongside a Juncao fodder farm to strengthen dairy production.

Speaking during the project site handover to the contractor, Makueni Director of Climate Change Jackline Kamusa said the integrated project is among 17 others across the county geared towards building community resilience to the impacts of climate change through locally led climate action.

TWIN FLLoCA PROJECTS TO TRANSFORM WATER ACCESS AND AGRICULTURE IN MUVAU/KIKUMINI AND KIKUMBULYU SOUTH.

Thousands of residents in Muvau/Kikumini and Kikumbulyu South wards are set to benefit from improved access to water and climate-smart agriculture following the commencement of two major livelihood restoration projects under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme.

Makueni Climate Change Unit officers, led by Director Jackline Kamusa, on Thursday officially handed over project sites to contractors for the implementation of the Thwake Water Distribution and Livelihood Restoration Project in Muvau/Kikumini Ward and the Ngandani Water Distribution and Livelihood Project in Kikumbulyu South Ward.

The Thwake project is designed to tackle chronic water shortages by enhancing the Thwake Sand Dam and expanding water distribution to several water-stressed villages, including Kyemwole, Nyunzu, Kambi Mawe, Kwa Kathoka, Mulaani, King’uutheni, Mwenyenyo, Kwa Mutune, Mang’auni, Kasarani, Sombi and Kwa Pius.

Beyond improving access to water, the project will boost agricultural productivity through the establishment of a fish hatchery at Kwa Kathoka ATC, pasture and fodder farms, agroforestry through the distribution of citrus and mango seedlings, and the installation of a rain gauge to support climate-informed farming.

Meanwhile, the Ngandani Water Distribution and Livelihood Project will improve access to clean and safe water through the construction of a spring intake at Kithokoosyo, installation of distribution pipelines and water kiosks to serve surrounding communities. The project will also promote climate-smart agriculture through pasture establishment, livestock breed improvement, apiculture, and farmer training on water management, rangeland governance and livestock value chains, helping farmers increase productivity while building resilience to climate change.