News

MAKUENI COUNTY EYES GLOBAL MARKETS WITH NEW HORTICULTURE PACKHOUSE PLANS

Makueni County has stepped up efforts to improve the handling and marketing of horticultural produce amid rising production and recurring seasonal gluts.

A joint team from the county’s Departments of Agriculture and Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday conducted a benchmarking visit to the Horticulture Crops Development (HCD) Centre at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to assess requirements for establishing and operating a standard pack house.

The delegation, led by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli and Transport and Infrastructure CECM Eng. Peter Mumo, held consultations with HCD officials on pack house design standards and best practices in produce handling that meet international quality and export requirements.

HCD Deputy Director for Regulation and Compliance Collins Otieno said proper produce protection is critical for maintaining quality, meeting export standards, and enabling efficient aggregation to enhance market competitiveness.

Makueni County currently operates packhouses and cold rooms at Kalawani, Kavuthu, and Kalongo, and plans to strengthen market linkages while developing a mega packhouse to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmer returns.

MAKUENI COUNTY PILOTS REGISTRATION OF MAKUENI CARE BENEFICIARIES AHEAD OF COUNTYWIDE ROLLOUT.

The Makueni County Government has piloted the registration of beneficiaries for the proposed Makueni Care programme, also known as Mutula Care, as preparations intensify for a countywide rollout later this month.

The pilot exercise, conducted on Friday targeted residents in the Muumbuni cluster , covering 20 villages, and the Kikumini cluster, covering 10 villages in Muvau-Kikumini Ward.

During the exercise, residents identified and vetted the most needy and deserving members of their communities at the village level to benefit from the programme, which is aimed at advancing universal health coverage in the county.

The vetted beneficiaries will be onboarded onto the Makueni Care programme ahead of its official launch scheduled for March.

The exercise was led by Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Health Services, Joyce Mutua, and included mass registration for the Social Health Authority (SHA) as well as testing of the registration system to assess its efficiency and reliability.

She urged residents to actively participate in the registration drive, noting that higher registration and utilisation rates would translate into increased revenue allocations to the county.

She said enhanced SHA registration would strengthen the county’s health financing and support the sustainability of health services.

Mutua further encouraged residents to turn up in large numbers once the full rollout.

The registration exercise is being carried out in partnership with the Social Health Authority (SHA), with residents encouraged to enrol to enhance access to affordable healthcare services across the county.

MAKUENI COUNTY LAUNCHES PHASE THREE OF DRIVER TRAINING

The Makueni County Government on Wednesday launched Phase Three of its youth driving training programme at Kee Market, enrolling 33 youths from Kee Ward for a two-month course aimed at equipping them with driving skills and enabling them to acquire driving licences.

The programme, implemented for the third year in Kee Ward, is being rolled out across three wards. It was launched on Tuesday in Masongaleni Ward, where 46 youths are benefiting, and is scheduled to reach Tulimani Ward next week.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, said the initiative is designed to enhance youth employability by providing practical, market-driven skills.

Kee Ward MCA Albanus Manzu praised Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for supporting the programme, describing it as a critical step in expanding economic opportunities for young people.

MAKUENI’S PROXIMIE HEALTH INNOVATION DRAWS GLOBAL ATTENTION

Makueni County’s pioneering adoption of Proximie technology is attracting global attention, with international teams visiting the county to experience firsthand its transformation of public healthcare.

Speaking on Thursday during an interview set to feature at an international film festival, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. said Proximie has revolutionized surgical care by improving efficiency, easing the workload of health workers, and creating continuous learning opportunities for local medical teams.

He said his administration is committed to running a human-centered government that prioritizes the welfare of both citizens and healthcare workers by reducing workplace frustrations through modern technological support.

Proximie allows remote specialists to virtually “scrub in” during surgeries, offering real-time guidance through augmented reality. County officials say the technology has reduced patient referrals to Nairobi, lowered healthcare costs, and improved access to timely specialist care.

The platform was lauded for enabling strengthened skills transfer, enabling local clinicians to treat patients effectively while building local capacity.

Makueni is the first county in Africa to integrate the technology into its health system, positioning it as a benchmark for digital healthcare innovation in Kenya and beyond.

MAKUENI WINS THE EMERGING TOURISM DESTINATION AWARD.

Makueni County on Wednesday evening shone on the national stage after clinching the Emerging Tourism Destination award at the 2nd Annual Kenya Tourism Awards Gala, marking a landmark achievement that highlights the county’s rapid rise in the tourism sector.

The award was received by Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism CECM Waziri Nicholas Nzioka alongside Chief Officer Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani, in celebration of Makueni County’s bold investments in tourism marketing, destination development and strong public–private partnerships that are steadily transforming the county into a vibrant and attractive destination for revellers.

The gala was graced by PS for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Stephen Isaboke, who highlighted tourism as a vital pillar of Kenya’s economy and called on counties to boldly market their distinctive attractions to unlock greater growth in the sector.

Blessed with breathtaking landscapes, a rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality, Makueni County is steadily carving out its place as a competitive tourism destination.

The awards, spanning various categories in the tourism sector, seek to spotlight and strengthen tourism as a key driver of economic growth and local development.

MURANG’A COUNTY TURNS TO MAKUENI FOR LESSONS IN MANGO VALUE ADDITION AT KALAMBA PROCESSING PLANT.

Makueni County continues to set the national benchmark in agricultural value addition, proving that when farmers, innovation, and visionary leadership align, agriculture becomes a thriving engine of economic transformation.

This leadership was on full display Wednesday as Murang’a County Assembly Committees on Agriculture and Trade undertook a benchmarking visit to the Kalamba Fruit Processing Plant, hosted by the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority (MCFDMA). The visit reaffirmed Makueni’s position as a trailblazer in transforming the mango value chain from subsistence farming into a competitive agribusiness powerhouse.

Murang’a County’s benchmarking visit underscored the growing recognition of Makueni’s integrated approach to agricultural development. From farmer organization and extension services to processing, branding, and market access, Makueni has built an end-to-end value chain model that other counties are now eager to replicate.

The engagement provided an opportunity for knowledge exchange on governance frameworks, public-private partnerships, and sustainable agribusiness models-cementing Kalamba’s role as a national learning hub for fruit processing and value addition.

CIVIL SOCIETY, COUNTY OFFICIALS DISCUSS GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT IN MAKUENI

The Makueni Civil Society Network on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. to explore collaboration aimed at strengthening grassroots participation and accelerating social development in the county.

Led by chairperson Daniel Mutunga, the delegation discussed priority areas including capacity building, civic education, and community-led development programmes.

Governor Mutula called on civil society organisations to champion good governance by sharing accurate and timely information with communities.

He urged the groups to advocate for the protection of county projects, noting that damage to public infrastructure strains county budgets and slows service delivery.

The governor encouraged civil society actors to carry out their advocacy and watchdog roles boldly and responsibly, saying independent oversight plays a critical role in promoting accountability, transparency, and order in government.

Members of the Civil Society Network welcomed the engagement and called for deeper involvement in county advocacy initiatives.

HUDUMA MASHINANI DRAWS OVER 1,600 RESIDENTS AS FREE SERVICES REACH MTITO ANDEI

Nthunguni Market came alive on Wednesday as more than 1,600 residents accessed government services during the Huduma Mashinani outreach in Mtito Andei Ward.

The exercise brought essential services directly to the community, including free affidavit services introduced for the first time to ease access to critical documentation.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, said the programme has now covered 16 wards, underscoring the county government’s drive to take services closer to the people.

Area MCA Francis Mulwa praised the initiative, noting that it spared residents long journeys to government offices and delivered timely services at the grassroots.

MAKUENI TO PILOT COMPOUND SEMICONDUCTOR RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR HEALTH AND WATER SYSTEM.

Makueni County will pilot compound semiconductor–enabled renewable energy technology to power its health and water infrastructure, a move expected to cut electricity costs by up to 30 percent.

The plan announced Wednesday during a consultative meeting between county officials and the University of Nairobi (UoN), will be carried out under the Compound Semiconductor–Enabled Renewable Energy Systems for Powering Critical Buildings in Africa project being implemented by UoN’s Department of Physics.

Briefing Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., the UoN team led by Prof. Julius Mwabora said the technology delivers higher efficiency and lower operating costs than conventional systems.

Governor Mutula welcomed the initiative, noting it will transfer technical skills to county staff and significantly reduce power bills for facilities that run continuously

The governor added that Makueni has strong solar resources and already has an energy plan and enabling policies in place to support large-scale renewable energy deployment.

MAKUENI REFERRAL HOSPITAL BOOSTED WITH ADVANCED SURGICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Wednesday commissioned new medical equipment at Makueni County Referral Hospital, marking a major boost to surgical and diagnostic services.

Among the additions is a modern diathermy monopolar machine that uses high-frequency electric currents to cut, coagulate or destroy tissue during surgery, significantly reducing blood loss.

The hospital also received infusion pumps, operating lights and tables, anesthesia machines, patient monitors for theatre and transit use, and a traction bed designed for orthopedic procedures.

A key highlight is a modern laparoscopic tower purchased by the county government. The mobile, integrated workstation supports minimally invasive surgeries and features high-resolution 4K UHD cameras, monitors, light sources, oxygen insufflators and suction systems that enhances precision, visualization and surgeon comfort.

In addition, the facility acquired a digital X-ray system that uses electronic detectors instead of film. The technology converts images into digital files within minutes, enabling faster diagnosis, improved image quality and reduced radiation exposure compared to conventional X-rays.

Governor Mutula noted that the high cost of medical equipment remains a major challenge for counties. He said the new acquisitions have enabled Makueni to expand operating theatres from two to four.

Hospital management reported that on busy days the X-ray unit handles between 70 and 80 patients, and the new equipment is expected to ease congestion and shorten waiting times.

Consultant general surgeon and endoscopist Dr. Alex Ombati said the upgrades will reduce referrals, allowing the hospital to manage even complex cases locally.

The equipment was procured through a collaboration between the National Equipment Service Programme (NESP) and county governments.