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MAKUENI COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL SWITCHES TO SOLAR POWER

By June 2024, Makueni County Referral Hospital will run on solar energy, guaranteeing patients uninterrupted health services even when there are grid electricity power outages.

Energy Chief Officer Eng. Naomi Nthambi on Tuesday launched the solar installation project at the referral hospital hoping to harness 200 Kilowatts at peak working capacity and supplement the grid electricity which is at times unreliable due to outages.

Naomi says this project will save the hospital an estimated Ksh 7 million in annual electricity expenditures.

This project will play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions while promoting a greener future through investment in renewable energy infrastructure. Successful implementation will also pave way for replication in other county strategic installations.

MAKUENI HAS INKED A DEAL WITH VILLAGE ENTERPRISE, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION KEEN ON ERADICATING EXTREME POVERTY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT JOINT INITIATIVES TOWARDS EXTREME POVERTY ERADICATION IN MAKUENI.

Makueni has inked a deal with Village Enterprise, a Non-Governmental Organization keen on eradicating extreme poverty in rural communities to implement joint initiatives towards extreme poverty eradication in Makueni. The initiatives aimed at financial inclusion equips first-time entrepreneurs with resources and skills to start climate-smart businesses and savings groups.

The deal was signed by GovernoMutula Kilonzo Jr and Taddeo Muriuki – Chief Government Relations Officer for Village Enterprise, in Wote, Tuesday

WOTE MUNICIPALITY BOARD MEMBERS SWORN INTO OFFICE

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Tuesday Witnessed swearing-in of the Wote Municipality Board members after they were vetted and approved by the County Assembly.

Mutula has tasked the board to move with speed and implement the functions he signed off for transfer to the municipality to enhance service delivery.

Some of the priorities the board will be tasked to address include waste management, water provision, drainage and sewer system for Wote town, Solar lighting of the markets within the municipality, roads maintenance and upgrading of urban centres, especially Wote town to instill investor confidence.

The members sworn into office are:

1. Benjamin Masungwa

2. Everlyn Mulewa Kimuli

3. Romeo Ndeveni

4. Benjamin Wambua Mutua

5. Daniel Kisyang’a

6. Paul Maundu Mutua

A 7th member, Angela Kiamba,  who is out of the country will be sworn at a later date.

MAKUENI PLANS TO INTRODUCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TB DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

Makueni’s department of health services has partnered with Centre for International Health, Education, and Biodiversity (CIHEB) Kenya to roll out use of Artificial Intelligence in Tuberculosis diagnostics.

The first phase will be rolled out in Makueni County Referral Hospital and Makindu Sub-county Hospital. The disease burden is highest in Makueni and Kibwezi West Subcounties.

Integration of AI technology aims to facilitate early detection and management through Tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili who led Makueni in marking the World TB Day at KMTC grounds in Wote, said Makueni has enough drug stocks to combat TB and urged residents to come out in large numbers for screening and treatment if found positive.

Statistics show that 92 percent of those diagnosed with TB in Makueni in 2023 are now free of the disease following consistent treatment and management.

FARMERS’ FIELD SCHOOLS ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY AND INCOME

Thange: March 22, 2024

Farmers’ Field Schools Enhance Productivity and Income

Numerous farmers have participated in the Farmer Field day events held at Thange and Mbitini wards.

The initiatives serve as a platform for acquiring knowledge from successful Farmers’ Field schools (FFS) teams, which received support from the National Agricultural Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP).

These groups demonstrated exemplary agricultural practices in tomato, Mango, green grams, and poultry value chains that have resulted in increased production and profitability.

Beneficiaries hailed FFS as an innovative approach that has positively impacted their behavior towards adopting improved skills and knowledge while exposing them to practical learning by doing techniques.

Makueni County NARIGP Coordinator Paul Musyimi graced the event on Friday in Thange, where he disclosed that over Sh 13 million had been invested to support 50 value chain groups in Thange Ward.

Additionally, he encouraged farmers to join saccos so they could access affordable credits through the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), a new program aimed at commercialization.

MAKUENI, MINISTRY OF TOURISM MOOT JOINT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Makueni County and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife have set the ball rolling towards joint tourism development and marketing.

During a tourism stakeholders meeting attended by players from both levels of government at Chyullu National Park on Friday, several approaches were fronted that will make Makueni a top tourist destination and boost local revenue.

These are:

1. Regularizing and promoting the South Eastern Kenya tourism circuit;

2. Working with industry players to set up hotels and tour agency investments around Chyulu;

3. Rehabilitation of Makindu airstrip;

4. Setting up four entry gates to Chyullu National Park at Makindu, Kaunguni, Metava and Katheka Kai with a view of promoting domestic tourism.

The meeting graced by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Alfred Mutua and Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr also agreed to develop a formula for sharing carbon credit revenue realized from the park.

Dr. Mutua promised to expedite completion of the electric fence around the park to put a permanent stop to the human-wildlife conflict that has left a long trail of death and destruction of property and crops in the larger Kibwezi area.