News

MAKUENI COUNTY TO SCREEN OVER 152, 000 RESIDENTS FOR VISION PROBLEMS, PROVIDE 12,000 SPECTACLES TO BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

Department of Health services in collaboration with sightsavers organised a co- creation workshop to support the implementation of Boresha Macho project.

The initiative is designed to address refractive error challenges and reduce preventable visual impairments across the County.

The two- year initiative seeks to achieve meaningful and lasting improvements in eye health.

Sightsavers is introducing the project to help meet the World Health Organisation’ s global target of a 40% increase in effective coverage of refractive error services.

Health Services Ag.Dr. Stephen Mwatha added that the County Government will build capacity of atleast 300 teachers and 365 community health promoters to conduct screenings and create awareness at the community level.

The workshop brought together key health stakeholders including Makueni County Referral Hospital CEO Ms Martha Munyao, Dr. Chomba among other departmental heads, who helped in planning the practical implementation of this transformative project.

MAKUENI COUNTY HAS EMERGED A STRONG CONTENDER AT THE ONGOING REGIONAL KENYA MUSIC FESTIVALS IN THARAKA NITHI COUNTY, SECURING SEVEN SPOTS IN THE RACE TO THE NATIONALS.

Wisdom Manna from Mukuyuni Primary School clinched position one in the Kiswahili solo verse “Niwashie Taa” with 90 marks, while Nzambani took second place in Kiswahili choral set verses with the piece “Mbona.”

In the English choral verse “Lavender’s Blue,” Chief Kiamba Primary took first place, with Mukuyuni Primary coming second.

Out of the 10 items from the County that qualified for regionals, seven have secured a spot at the national stage set for next month in Meru.

The five-day music festival is currently underway at Chuka Boys High School in Tharaka Nithi County.

The Makueni team is led by Chief Officer for ICT, Education and Internship Irene Makau and County Assembly representatives including Education Committee Chair, Joseph Mbindyo.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN MAKUENI

The Anita Mbinya Foundation, in partnership with Brighter Monday Kenya, has launched a new initiative dubbed Generation to Kazi, targeting young people aged between 18 and 35 years who have completed technical training lasting six months or one year.

The program which was unveiled at Mbuvo KMTC, aims to equip participants with essential soft and digital skills to enhance their employability and support their transition into entrepreneurship.

Anita Mutula, Makueni County First Lady and Executive Director of the Anita Mbinya Foundation, is urging youth across the county to take advantage of the training opportunities, which will be rolled out in vocational centres and County Technical Training Institutes (CTTIs) throughout Makueni.

The First Lady was flanked by Brighter Monday Kenya officials ,area MCA Kennedy Maneno, Devolution CECM Nickolas Nzioka,COs Felistus Mutune( Office of the Governor),Harvey Mulei(Health),Chief of Staff Mercy Kinyi among other county officials

DG LUCY MULILI DRIVES GRASSROOTS EMPOWERMENT IN EMALI, KILOME DEVELOPMENT TOUR

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday led a development tour of Emali/Mulala, Kasikeu, and Mukaa wards, where she promoted the county’s social inclusion program.

In Emali, Mulili distributed youth empowerment tools, including full public address systems, mechanic support equipment, and state-of-the-art wheelchairs for people with mobility challenges.

At Kasikeu, the Deputy Governor provided sports equipment to organized youth teams to boost sports development in the area.

In Mukaa Ward, 10 social welfare groups each received a 100-seater tent and chairs to support their income-generating activities. Additionally, Mulili distributed footballs to sports teams and wheelchairs to persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Mulili, accompanied by Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, and respective MCAs Cosmus Kaleli, Reuben Kavai and Joseph Muema reiterated Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s commitment to inclusivity and support for vulnerable groups, ensuring no one feels left out in the county development.

SACCOs AND FARMER GROUPS TRAINED ON AUTOMATION TO IMPROVE SERVICES.

A total of 22 SACCOs and 13 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in Makueni have completed a two-day training on automation and digital record-keeping. The training, completed on Friday, was organized by the Department of Agriculture and facilitated by AMTECH with support from the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

The training aimed to equip Executive Committee members and bookkeepers with the skills needed to manage financial and member records using a new automated system. Through this system, SACCOs and FPOs will improve the accuracy, efficiency, and transparency of their operations.

Bookkeepers were trained on how to enter data, manage transactions, and keep member records updated using the digital platform.

While addressing the forum, Chief Officer for Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, Japheth Kiminza, encouraged the bookkeepers to understand the value of automation and their role in overseeing its implementation.

The new system focuses on key operations such as: registering members, tracking contributions and managing shares, processing loan applications, digitizing past records and moving to the new system.

This initiative is expected to strengthen transparency, improve services, and make management easier for both SACCOs and FPOs.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CHAMPIONS SOCIAL INCLUSION IN MAKUENI’S DEVELOPMENT

As part of his vision for inclusive development in Makueni, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has placed social inclusion at the forefront of his administration’s priorities.

To ensure no one is left behind, the county government has prioritized mainstreaming persons living with disabilities into its overall development agenda. As part of this commitment, over 840 residents with disabilities have received state-of-the-art wheelchairs in the 2024/2025 Financial Year to enhance their mobility and independence.

440 of these wheelchairs were procured through the ward-based budget. In a complementary effort, the county partnered with Hope Mobility Kenya to provide an additional 400 wheelchairs, distributed in November 2024, reaching even more beneficiaries.

On Thursday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and Executive Committee Member in-charge of Gender Eng. Sebastian Kyoni issued wheel chairs for Nguu/Masumba and Ivingoni/Nzambani wards on the sidelines of an Ujuzi Teke Teke tools issuance exercise.

HOW UJUZI TEKE TEKE IS EMPOWERING MAKUENI YOUTH

In June 2024, Keli Kithome (24 years) a resident of Ivingoni/Nzambani ward graduated from Wote Technical Training Institute with a certificate in plumbing.

Like many young graduates, Keli initially struggled to find meaningful work, resorting to menial jobs to make ends meet. However, his fortunes changed when he became a beneficiary of Ujuzi Teke Teke, a hands-on skills training and tooling program initiated by the Government of Makueni County.

Through this transformative initiative, Keli received a complete set of plumbing tools, enabling him to establish his own plumbing consultancy business.

Keli’s story mirrors that of other 75 young beneficiaries from across the county who have received tools of trade in various vocational fields. The initiative represents a concrete effort by the Government of Makueni County under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s leadership to address youth unemployment by equipping young people with both skills and the necessary tools to kickstart their entrepreneurial journeys.

The tools distribution exercise in Ivingoni/Nzambani and Nguu/Masumba wards was officiated by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, accompanied by Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, the County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services and Nguu MCA Daniel Musau.

45 TULIMANI YOUTH RECEIVE DRIVING LICENSES AFTER SUCCESSFUL GRADUATION

45 graduates of the makueni county driving course from Tulimani ward have today received their licenses after successfully completing the minimum one-month training.

The 45 represent the first batch of 176 who have been trained or are undergoing training in the 2024/2025 financial year across the county. The program forms a key component of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s broader youth empowerment strategy, focused on creating inclusive development opportunities throughout the county.

The issuance of the licenses was graced by Area MCA Kyalo Mumo.

FROM LEARNING TO LEADING: MAKUENI’S COHORT VII INTERNS EXIT WITH JOBS, SCHOLARSHIP

It was a bittersweet moment as Makueni County’s seventh cohort of interns gathered today at Makueni Integrated Vocational Empowerment Centre for their exit meeting after one transformative year in various county departments.

The internship program, which aims to arm fresh graduates with hands-on skills for the competitive job market, saw 125 young professionals take up placements last July — and the results speak for themselves.

By the time they were concluding their contracts, eight had already secured employment opportunities, one earned a coveted scholarship for further studies, and many left equipped with valuable experience they can leverage moving forward.

The internship, a cornerstone of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s commitment to youth empowerment, offers practical exposure and mentorship to those making their first career strides in public service.

The meeting was presided over by ICT, Education and Internship, CECM, Elizabeth Muli, and attended by CECMs, Nicholas Nzioka, Devolution and Dr. Sonia Nzilani, Trade and Chief Officer Irene Makau.

The county is now turning its attention to the next batch. Applications for the eighth cohort are ongoing and will close on July 3.

MAKUENI RECEIVES 150 MEDICAL FLOWMETERS FROM PATH TO BOOST OXYGEN THERAPY

Makueni County has received 150 medical flowmeters from PATH, a move aimed at strengthening oxygen therapy services in local health facilities. The flowmeters will be distributed to the Makueni County Referral Hospital as well as Makindu, Sultan Hamud, and Mbooni sub-county hospitals.

According to the Health Services CECM Dr.Paul Musila, the devices are essential for delivering accurate oxygen therapy to patients, particularly in emergency situations.

Dr.Musila, noted that the need for reliable oxygen supply systems in county health facilities became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, the county has been working with partners to address existing gaps.

The donation supports Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s broader commitment to strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage across the county.