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Kibwana: I am both a Governor and Pastor

When invited to Mavuno church in Athi River to speak on faith and leadership at a three-day summit dubbed Fearless Summit 2018, on Wednesday, Makueni governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana left his audience in awe when he declared that he considered himself both a governor and pastor.

“I consider myself both a governor and pastor because I get opportunities to meet with people not reached out to by pastors in funerals, weddings and other public and social events. When I talk to them, they listen and some even denounce their not-so-good ways of life,” said Prof Kibwana to a thunderous applause from congregants drawn from various states across the globe.

Prof Kibwana said before he ventured into the contest for the governorship, he pursued Theology so as to have a deeper understanding of how to serve the people better.

“I chose to pursue a theological course while still serving as the advisor to the former President Mwai Kibaki, who was amused that I still wanted to go back to school after a considerable period of schooling. Deep down I knew I wanted to be a governor and understanding self and service to mankind drove me to theological school,” the governor said.

He said many people, including those who profess christianity harbour a misguided opinion that matters of state must be separated from matters of faith.

Many people of faith, Prof Kibwana said, fear venturing into politics thinking they would be compromised by the secular system of governance.

According to him, it is this lack of men of faith in governance that has engendered the deep rooted corruption plaguing the country.

Prof Kibwana opined that the leadership influence inculcated in successive generations affects the overall development of the state or organisation depending on the character of the predecessor.

Kibwana hosts Polish Envoy for Bilateral Trade Engagement

Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Monday hosted at Wote the Polish ambassador to Kenya Jacek Bazanski for a bilateral trade engagement with special focus on cooperative movement development.

The ambassador said his major reason for the Makueni visit was to establish a platform for Polish companies to interact with their Kenyan /Makueni counterparts for shared economic partnerships.

He said Makueni has entrenched a transparent leadership which is attracting investors, and Poland would seek to work with the county for the benefit of both the county government and his country.

Bazanski was accompanied by the Nairobi Bureau Chief of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency Michael Mazurewicz.

The two, accompanied by governor Kibwana and department of trade officials held talks with representatives of cooperators across Makueni.

Kibwana welcomed any partnership with Poland investors that would help grow the County cooperative movement to become a key socio-economic driver to the county and Country at large.

“We are desirous of establishing mutually beneficial relations with your country in the areas of agro-processing, water harvesting/conservation and road infrastructure development so that we can easily embrace technology from your country,” Kibwana told the envoy.

Kibwana said since the inception of his government, the cooperative movement has grown from 83 cooperatives to 207, with a total membership of 50,866, share capital of Kenya shillings 264,002,126, turnover of Kenya shillings 72,862,269 and members’ savings of Kenya shillings 202,389,214.

The Polish envoy agreed to co-facilitate a trip to Poland for the Makueni cooperators’ representatives to learn from best practices on cooperative movement participation in the country’s development.

Poland has one of the most developed cooperative movement which has catapulted it to the 6th biggest economy in Europe.

Kibwana hosts Dutch Envoy, Former CJ, on devolution support

Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Monday hosted Dutch ambassador to Kenya Frans Makken, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Ford Foundation’s Eastern Africa director Maurice Makoloo at Wote to share ideas on how to support devolution through mutual partnerships.

The leaders explored possible areas of partnerships with key focus on institutionalized civic education, public participation and mainstreaming the youth in development.

Dr Mutunga described Makueni as a beacon of progress for sustaining devolution owing to its robust civic space and public participation framework.

“Makueni is one big change story,” he said. “We are looking at the county as a focus for enhancing civic space because of the robust public participation and civic engagement of the citizens being rolled,” said the former CJ.

Governor Kibwana said it took a lot of struggle to achieve a successful civic education and public participation in the county as the first crop of members of county assembly vehemently opposed any proposed budgetary allocation on grounds that it would have done better on tangible projects such as water, roads and Early Childhood Development Centres.

He said it is out of the robust civic space that the citizens petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve the county government after it became ungovernable due to incessant fights between MCAs and the executive during the first cycle of devolution.

Kibwana said his government has opened its doors to partners such as Ford Foundation, adding that the government is only playing a catalyst role and then partnering with strategic partners for sustainable development.

Dutch ambassador to Kenya Frans Makken said innovative processes for development partnerships should be enhanced as donors are no longer dishing out monies but facilitating ideas that would translate into wealth creation and tangible social-economic achievements.

He said there are numerous companies, donors and other non state actors willing to engage in such like partnerships with counties such as Makueni which have demonstrated willingness to work with the public in a people-driven development model.

Mr. Makoloo said the foundation will consider working with Makueni to pilot a new youth program involving building a green rural economy driven by young people.

Kibwana Forms Committee to Deal with Floods Crisis

Governor Kivutha Kibwana has formed an inter-departmental committee to coordinate and address emergency responses on the flooding disaster that has hit the County.

Kibwana who had to cut short his stay at the 5th devolution conference in Kakamega to address the disaster at home on Wednesday dispatched a team of executive committee members to various sub- counties to assess the damage and interventions required to restore normalcy from the flooding disaster.

So far, 24 earth dams across the county have breached and washed away resulting into a serious water challenges. Boreholes, water pumps, water pipelines and kiosks have also been damaged leaving the affected residents with no water access.

In a preliminary report on the extend of the flooding damage, released by Governor Kibwana on Thursday, water resources worth more than Sh 300 million have been lost to the raging floods in the county.

“We are facing a real disaster in Makueni. I have personally witnessed acres of crop that have been flattened, uprooted water pipelines and sumps.This is a huge damage that so far is estimated at Sh 300 million on water resources alone,” he said.

He said seven lives had been lost to the disaster so far.

Governor Kibwana said his government will distribute mattresses and foodstuffs to those displaced from their homes as a temporary measure, while lobbying non governmental organisations, the national government and other partners to come up with long term solutions to the flooding menace.

“We are in talks with the KeNHA, KeRRA, Red Cross, NDMA and other support groups to undo the damage especially on roads, bridges, water resources and resettlement of Internally Displaced People.

He said at least Sh 2 billion will be required to restore normalcy across all affected sectors in the entire county.

He spoke at Nguu ward during a tour of the affected families.

Kibwana Commits his Executive Committee Members to Performance Contracts

Governor Kivutha Kibwana has for the third year running committed members of his county executive to performance contracts for the 2020/2021 Financial Year.

“Today is yet again another opportunity I have to preside over the signing of performance contracts as we continue to institutionalize the performance management process. This is the third consecutive year we are signing performance contracts. As we have indicated in the past, performance management continues to be an integral part of our service delivery and project implementation,” said governor Kibwana when he presided over the exercise at his offices on Friday

governor Kibwana challenged the departments to work hard to ensure service delivery is given to the people of Makueni to the highest possible quality and that their work is changing the lives of the people they serve for the better.

In view of the COVID-19 challenges and emerging trends, Kibwana has directed all county departments to explore modalities of automating as many of their services as is practically possible. This will ensure continuity of service delivery even during such challenges. It will also help in cutting costs associated with traveling and meetings and direct such savings to development projects for our people.

Kibwana commissions distribution of 50,000 title deeds

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana on Friday led local residents in celebrating this year’s madaraka day by commissioning the issuance of 50,000 freehold title deeds at Nunguni.

The two-week distribution exercise, facilitated by the county government, will be conducted across the county.

The event was also attended by County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed, Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, assembly speaker Douglas Mbilu, MPs Joshua Kimilu Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo as well as County Secretary Paul Wasanga.

Prof Kibwana said the lands department is undertaking several projects with a view to securing land tenure for a majority of the urban and rural populations:

Among these include: Survey for issuance of leasehold titles which has been extended to six markets spread out within all the Sub Counties.

The exercise involves the establishment of survey controls, picking and plotting of all property boundaries and preparation of survey plans from data collected for onwards processing with the Directorate of Land Surveys.

He said Support has also been extended to National Government Departments like the District Land Adjudication and Settlement Office through financing the remainder of activities towards resolution of arbitration board cases and hearings with a view to finalizing the adjudication areas for onwards gazettement and publication of registers.

The department has also facilitated the National Land Commission for the allocation of public land for public use as well as alienating land for public good.

Successful excisions have been done for Kevanda, Ngai Ndethya, Kiboko A, B and C and resolving long standing disputes for Mikululo, Mukaa Mbita among others.

Prof Kibwana said his administration is working on Makueni Big Four Agenda as captured in the County Integrated Development Plan (2018-2022), which include;

Reliable potable water for domestic use, Food security and agricultural commercialization. Youth, Women and persons with disability (PWD) economic empowerment and Institutional strengthening and capacity development.

The county commissioner assured Prof Kibwana of his support in combating illegal sand harvesting and insecurity.

“We will work together to deal with the illegal sand harvesting and insecurity,” said Mr Mohammed.

Kibwana calls on Kenyans to support NIIMS Registration

Governor Kivutha Kibwana has urged all Kenyans to support the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) #HudumaNamba registration exercise.

Speaking during the exercise launch at Masii Boys’ High School, Machakos County, Kibwana said the exercise is important for our country’s planning and development.

“What we are launching today is a very important exercise for planning and development. As Council of Governors, we shall support this initiative wholeheartedly so we can enlist as many Kenyans within the 45-day registration period.”

Kibwana said he would use his position as the Council’s Chief Whip to rally governors to spearhead the registration exercise so it can get the support of all Kenyans.

The #HudumaNamba registration exercise was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta and graced by among others Governors Kivutha Kibwana, Alfred Mutua, Charity Ngilu; Cabinet Secretaries Fred Matiang’i and Margaret Kobia.

Kibwana calls for Transparency and Accountability in Public Service Delivery

Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana has told top county officials that they must subscribe to principles of transparency and accountability in the conduct of business to ensure efficient service delivery.

Prof Kibwana said that public servants are accountable to the citizens for their actions and service delivery adding that it is a great privilege to serve the citizens.

He further said that it was no longer business as usual when it comes to service delivery reminding the officers that he had to fulfill his promises to the citizenry which they together with deputy governor Adelina Mwau committed to through signing of the performance contract with the people of Makueni

“We must be accountable in our delivering of services to the people of Makueni. Serving our people is a great privilege,” the governor said.

The governor spoke on Tuesday at Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos where the deputy governor they addressed county executive committee members, chief officers and directors during the Kenya Devolution Support Programme workshop.

Prof. Kibwana further noted that there was need for change of the mindsets of the public servants if transformative results were to be attained.

His sentiments were echoed by Mwau who said that officers must strive to ensure that every minute and shilling spent should be accounted for through results

The DG said: “As public servants, we must be able to accountable of the resources entrusted to us and as such we must strive to ensure that every minute and shilling spent is accounted for.”

The three day workshop is geared towards enhancing public service delivery in the county institutions with focus on public financial management, civic education and public participation, monitoring and evaluation, human resource performance, planning and environment mainstreaming.

Kibwana backs Uhuru’s stand on graft

Makueni County Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana yesterday said he is supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recently launched war on corruption saying if life audits are properly done then high level corruption can be stemed.

Makueni leaders declare support for Kenyatta’s anti-graft war.

Makueni leaders have in one accord declared their unwavering support to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s war against graft.

The leaders who spoke at Wote Catholic Church hall during the second annual county prayer breakfast Tuesday said the country is bleeding from the heavy burden of corruption that has permeated virtually every sector of governance.

“I want to declare my 100 percent support to the president in this war against corruption. It is not an easy task but it is achievable,” said Governor Kivutha Kibwana, the keynote speaker of the event.

Prof Kibwana said the lifestyle audit for all the civil servants recommended by president Kenyatta is a welcome move with a potential to yield results if well conducted.

A lifestyle audit is one of the best forms of fighting this war. Every civil servant should be subjected to this audit and the results published. Any undeserved or illegally acquired assets and wealth should be recovered by the state,” he said.

Kibwezi MP Jessica Mbalu who serves as the vice chair of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said her committee is working round the clock to unravel major corruption scandals that will save the country millions of shillings.

“The Public Accounts Committee will not rest until those involved in dubious dealings meant to fleece Kenyans are brought to book. We have the capacity and commitment to bring to light all those perpetrating corruption,” said the Kibwezi MP.

Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia challenged his colleagues in the national assembly and the executive to embrace public participation in development saying it is one way to curb graft as the public is involved every step of the way.

He said he had copied the Makueni County model of public participation in the implementation of Kilome’s development agenda.

Other speakers who supported this clarion call at the event include Deputy governor Adelina Mwau, Kaiti MP Joshua Kimilu, Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo and Makueni assembly speaker Douglas Mbilu.

KIBOKO ZOOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AND EFFICACY TRIAL CENTRE, KIBWEZI WEST

TOMATO FARMING IN MAKUENI: A Hidden Agribusiness Gem.

Tomato farming in Makueni holds untapped potential in agribusiness. Given the county’s semi-arid climate, farmers are advised to select disease-resistant seeds to maximize their yields.

In tomato farming, proper land preparation for adequate soil drainage and aeration, combined with regular weeding, minimizes competition for nutrients and water.

While farmers are advised to use organic manure or balanced fertilizers for healthy plant growth, mulching also helps retain soil moisture and control weeds.

As tomatoes mature, staking provides essential support to the plants, helping to prevent fruit rot. Additionally, farmers should practise timely pest and disease control to reduce losses.

Consistent water management practices are essential for irrigation, particularly during dry seasons, and tomatoes should be harvested at the appropriate maturity stage to maximize market value.

On Thursday, Makueni County’s Ward Agricultural Officers (WAOs) completed an intensive three-day training and practical sessions at the Kiboko Zoological Investigations and Efficacy Trial Centre, aimed at enhancing tomato farming practices to increase its productivity.

The training, conducted under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), aimed to equip WAOs with essential knowledge and skills to support tomato farmers.

It covered key areas such as the economic importance of tomato farming, climate-related challenges, seed varieties, selection, and optimal growing conditions for improved productivity.

Participants gained insights into Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and food safety, as well as pest, weed and disease management in tomato farming. The training also focused on soil fertility and water management strategies to maximize yields.

Additionally, the program introduced mechanization solutions tailored for small-scale farmers to enhance efficiency, while also covering value addition, business management and effective techniques for training and supporting farmers in the field.

The WAOs were well-prepared to disseminate knowledge, promote best practices and support farmers in optimizing tomato farming.

This initiative is expected to enhance food security, improve incomes and strengthen the tomato value chain in Makueni County.