News

Dr. KYOYA SWORN IN TO LEAD MAKUENI COUNTY EMPOWERMENT FUND

Dr. Annah Kyoya has been sworn in as chairperson of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) following her successful vetting and approval by the Makueni County Assembly.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. witnessed the swearing-in ceremony, administered by the County Attorney, and urged Dr Kyoya to discharge her duties diligently.

The governor said the county’s priority is to boost economic empowerment while increasing household incomes among Makueni residents. He revealed that the county has already secured Sh160 million for the fund, with additional resources expected through partnerships aimed at strengthening its impact.

MCEF remains a key economic pillar in the county, structured as a revolving fund that provides sustainably affordable, interest-free credit to residents, particularly those running micro and small enterprises.

Dr Kyoya, who will chair the MCEF Committee, is expected to supervise the fund’s operations and spearhead efforts to grow its capital base through stakeholder engagement.

Speaking after taking the oath of office, Dr Kyoya thanked the county government for entrusting her with the role, terming it a noble mandate.

The swearing-in ceremony was also attended by County Executive Committee Members: Japheth Mang’oka, Joyce Mutua, and Eng. Sebastian Kyoni.

Established in 2015 under the Public Finance Management Act, the fund has undergone several reviews of its guidelines and regulations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

MCEF is currently anchored under the Makueni County Social Protection Act, 2025, and the MCEF Regulations, 2025. It is wholly owned by the County Government of Makueni and domiciled within the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services.

The fund’s mandate includes providing access to capital and financing facilities to micro and small enterprises owned by marginalized groups—youth, women, men, and persons with disabilities—facilitating investment in small businesses, and advancing loans to village savings and loan associations across the county.

MAKUENI BOOSTS HIV AND TB RESPONSE WITH NEW OUTREACH VEHICLE FROM CIHEB KENYA

Makueni County has stepped up its fight against HIV and TB after CIHEB Kenya handed over a program vehicle to the Department of Health Services. The vehicle will strengthen outreach and boost service delivery as health programs shift to county-led, financed, and fully owned systems.

Chief Officer for Health, human resources management and administration Dr. Harvey Mulei Mbithi, received the vehicle under the Uzinduzi Project.

The handover comes at a critical moment as Kenya adjusts to changes in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding, safeguarding continued access to quality HIV care for communities.

The CIHEB team was led by Dr. Peter Kyalo, the program director PACT Imara project.

STRENGTHENING FARMERS’ SACCOS.

Saccos remain vital engines of farmer prosperity, enabling savings, affordable credit access and collective investment that strengthens livelihoods and local economies.

It is in this premise that the Cooperative Development Directorate, through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), has rolled out a targeted monitoring program to strengthen cooperative performance across the county.

The monitoring program, which kicked off on Monday at Mavindini Ward Sacco and Muvau/Kikumini Farmers Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Limited, brought together Sacco leadership and officers in open, constructive discussions to assess governance structures, financial operations, savings trends, interest rates, and the level of member participation, with a focus on strengthening overall performance and accountability.

The initiative targeting eleven Saccos drawn from across the county seeks to sharpen efficiency, grow membership, and build stronger financial foundations set to benefit and reinforce their role as drivers of inclusive agricultural investment and rural transformation.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR. TUESDAY HELD A CONSULTATIVE MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION AUTHORITY (NIA) LOWER EASTERN REGION.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. Tuesday held a consultative meeting with representatives from the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) Lower Eastern region. The meeting focused on reviewing the status of projects being implemented by the authority, identifying areas of collaboration to complement irrigation development schemes in Makueni, mapping priority areas to ensure project sustainability, projects co-creation and scaling up support outcomes.The Governor raised concerns over stalled and delayed irrigation projects by NIA, noting that the performance of irrigation systems has a direct impact on water availability and food security.

The NIA delegation was led by Rispah Okumbe, the Regional Coordinator for the Lower Eastern region, and accompanied by members of the Kikome Irrigation Scheme.

MAKUENI COUNTY STEPS UP SUPPORT FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

The Government of Makueni County has intensified its response as heavy rains continue to pound the region.

During a visit to Kitende Village in Kilungu Ward, Kaiti Sub County, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili urged residents living in landslide-prone areas to relocate to safer evacuation centres, including St. Theresa Comprehensive School.

Her visit followed a deadly mudslide that killed two siblings and injured several others.

Working alongside the Kenya Red Cross Society, the county government distributed essential relief supplies, including food, bedding, mattresses, and tents, to affected families.

County Executive Committee Member for Devolution Nicholas Nzioka and Kaiti Constituency Member of Parliament Joshua Kimilu also attended the exercise and provided additional support.

Authorities have confirmed that at least 16 people have died as a result of the ongoing heavy rains.

Officials continue to urge residents to remain vigilant and move to designated safe areas where necessary.

MAKUENI MODEL MATERNAL HEALTH INITIATIVES COMMEND DURING INTERNATIONAL MATERNAL AND NEWBORN CONFERENCE

Makueni County’s maternal health model has been commended as a leading example in reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths at the International Maternal and Newborn Conference in Nairobi.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. , who delivered a keynote speech during the conference, said the county’s progress is driven by deliberate policies, strong political commitment, and community-based interventions focused on maternity and family units.

He highlighted the county’s emphasis on male involvement and strong family support systems as key to improving maternal health outcomes.

The governor noted that postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains a major cause of maternal deaths in many regions, largely due to gaps in access to quality care. “Each death is a family permanently altered. This is not just a health issue—it is a leadership failure,” he said.

He called for practical reforms, including wider access to essential medicines, clear public health communication, and targeted action on key risk factors such as anaemia, poor nutrition, and pregnancy-related hypertension.

Makueni County was recognised for achieving zero deaths from PPH in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating the impact of its focused interventions.

The county is now expanding efforts to address other causes of maternal mortality, including hypertensive disorders, while strengthening antenatal and postnatal care services.

MKJ SUPA CUP SUB-COUNTY FINALS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES

The Sub-county finals of the MKJ Supa Cup, Makueni’s premier sporting tournament, have successfully come to a close.

During a closing ceremony of the Mbooni Sub-county finals at Kalawa on Sunday, County Executive Committee Member for Sports Eng. Sebastian Kyoni termed the tourney as highly successful, commending the players, coaches and referees for upholding high levels of discipline and integrity during the campaign.

Kyoni urged teams to intensify preparations ahead of the county finals scheduled for April 1st and 2nd in Wote, emphasizing the importance of integrity in player selection and fair competition.

The MKJ Supa Cup, which features youth aged 23 and below, continues to serve as a vital platform for nurturing talent and offering young players an opportunity to be identified and recruited into higher-level clubs.

MAKUENI CHAMPIONS RESTORATION OF 200,000HA OF DEGRADED LAND ECOSYSTEMS

Makueni County on Saturday joined the rest of the World in commemorating International Day of Forests at KALRO Kiboko, under the theme Forests and Economics, where attendees planted over 1,000 tree seedlings.

Leading the exercise, Chief Officer for Environment, Natural Resources, Mining and Climate Change Dr. Ngovi Muthoka encouraged residents to plant trees extensively, highlighting their role in restoring degraded land, improving livelihoods through products such as fruits and timber and boosting agricultural productivity.

Ngovi said the county government targets the restoration of 200,000 hectares of degraded land in Makueni as part of a broader effort to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability.

The exercise was also graced by key partners including the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Red Cross Society, Hatua Achievers Association, ChildFund among others.

MKJ SUPA CUP SUB- COUNTY FINALS

Makindu Ward men’s football team (in red kits) in action against Kikumbulyu South at Makindu Railway Grounds on Saturday during the Kibwezi West Sub-county MKJ Supa Cup Finals.

The tournament, which brings together all-star ward teams from the Ligi Mashinani games, provides a platform for young people to showcase their talents. Scouts are on the ground to identify outstanding players for possible trials and transition into Kenya’s elite clubs

DEPUTY GOVERNOR MULILI CHAMPIONS HUDUMA MASHINANI EXPANSION IN MASONGALENI

Residents of Masongaleni Ward on Thursday turned up at Kavatini Market to access essential government services under the Huduma Mashinani Programme, as the County Government of Makueni continued to take services closer to the people.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili lauded the programme as a transformative initiative that enhances access to services at the grassroots, noting that its success is driven by strong synergy between the county government, the County Commissioner’s Office and the national government. She affirmed that the programme will be conducted annually to ensure more residents benefit from the vital services.

In the same occasion, the county government extended support to local churches through the distribution of 855 plastic chairs to 43 churches across the ward. The initiative aimed at strengthening community and worship activities.

Area MCA Brian Nzoka thanked Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for prioritizing service delivery at the grassroots, noting that the initiative has made it easier for residents to access important government services within their locality.