News

KWA NZOONGO DAM: A NEW HOPE FOR WATER AND FOOD SECURITY IN IVINGONI/NZAMBANI

Kwa Nzoongo Earth Dam, powered by the community-driven climate action program (FLLoCA), is set to revolutionize the water, agriculture, and environmental situation in Ivingoni/Nzambani Ward.

The Kshs 10M dam (funded by the World Bank and Makueni County Government) is nearly complete, with the contractor currently undertaking repair works on the embankment that breached during the recent rainy season.

Once fully operational, the dam will provide water to 400 households for both domestic use and micro-irrigation, including the establishment of vertical gardens to enhance food security.

A climate-smart agricultural demonstration farm will be set up near the dam site to educate farmers, alongside capacity-building programs on farmland and rangeland management. Additionally, efforts will be made to develop pasture through grass reseeding.

KWA MAKAU BOREHOLE BRINGS WATER RELIEF TO MAVINDINI

Over 1,600 households in Katithi Sub-Location, Mavindini Ward, will now access clean water following the commissioning of the Kwa Makau Borehole water project by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. on Wednesday.

The Ksh. 10.2 million project, funded by Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) under the Charity Water Mission, will serve 15 villages with water for domestic and institutional use.

Key works of the project included upgrading the solar system, building a 50m³ storage tank, laying 12.5km of pipeline, constructing six kiosks and two ablution blocks, and installing six PVC tanks.

Governor Mutula, while commissioning the project, accompanied by area MCA Jonathan Kimongo, urged residents to safeguard the water infrastructure against vandalism.

Additionally, three primary schools have benefited through dedicated water connections.

Kwa Diana Misuuni water project commissioned

2,600 households drawn from Mitooni, Misuuni,Yindundu,Athi Makutano and songea villages within Kiteng’ei, Mtito-Andei ward will benefit greatly following the commissioning of Kwa Diana Misuuni water pipeline by H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

The water will be sourced from 100 M3 water sump along Kambu River.

Water agenda is the Governor’s priority and he observes that he will ensure he walks his promise to the people.

Makueni County Volleyball Tournament Kicks off

The 2018 Makueni County volleyball tournament served off Saturday morning at Unoa grounds in Wote, Makueni County. The tournament, sponsored by the County Government of Makueni and Kenya Volleyball Federation attracted more than 38 teams, both men and women in different categories:

Senior teams
Self Supporting Clubs
Schools and colleges

Draws were conducted this morning to determine the pools and fixtures for the two-day tournament.

POOL A

GSU
KENYATTA NATIONAL HOSPITAL (KNH)

POOL B

PRISONS MOMBASA
ADMINISTRATION POLICE (AP KENYA )
WESTERN PRISONS

POOL C

PRISONS KENYA
VIHIGA COUNTY

POOL D

KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY (KPA)
KAHAWA GARRISON
KENYA AIRPORTS AUTHORITY

SENIOR WOMEN

PRISONS KENYA
KENYA COMMERCIAL BANK (KCB)
KENYA PIPELINE
DIRECTORATE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION (DCI)
KAHAWA GARRISON

SELF SUPPORTING CLUBS

MEN

POOL A

BUNGE
WOTE AFYA
CBD

POOL B

K. MULTI-PURPOSE
SCORPION
KATULYE

POOL C

MAKINDU
MALEX LOGISTICS

POOL D

GROSSROAD
MACHAKOS UNITED
DAYSTAR VOLLEYBALL CLUB

WOMEN

MAKINDU
MALEX LOGISTICS
WOTE MKS
HIGHRISE
BUNGE

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

MEN

WOTE TECHNICAL
MUTINGI SECONDARY SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

WOMEN

KATULANI PRIMARY SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National League and Makueni County Tournament

KVF in conjunction with the Government of Makueni County will host the 7^th Leg of the 2018 Edition and thereafter the Makueni County tournament at Unoa Sports ground in Wote town.

This is the second time after hosting the 6^th Leg of 2017 Edition, an indication of the confidence that KVF gained on the County Government’s ability to host an event of this magnitude.

We love such events so that our players and fans can have an opportunity to watch the elite clubs in the National League and also have experience to play against them during the tournament.

We thank our supporters who came in a big way: KCB, Wote branch and Nairobi Bottlers Ltd.

Welcome to Makueni County.

KSHS 13M THANGE INTEGRATED WATER PROJECT SET TO EASE WATER WOES IN THE WARD

For over a decade, residents of Thange Ward have endured persistent water shortages, a challenge compounded by contamination of existing water sources due to oil spills.

To alleviate this suffering and create a sustainable all-year-round access to clean, safe and sufficient water, the Government of Makueni County, through the Climate Change Unit, has officially handed over to a contractor the site for construction of the Thange Integrated Water Project. The Kshs 13M project is funded under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.

The project will involve construction of a 100,000-litre water sump and intake, water distribution lines, four water points, and environmental conservation measures to protect the fragile riparian ecosystem. Water will be sourced from the Thange Springs, an underground flow from the Chyulu Hills, ensuring a clean and uncontaminated supply.

Once completed in approximately six months, the project is expected to benefit at least 730 households in Machinery Town, Moki, Mbulutini, Thange, Kavunye and Ndungi Street, as well as St. Peters Primary and Secondary Schools.

Beyond improving water access, the project will also empower residents through training in climate-smart agriculture. Community members will receive conical gardens and beehives to boost food production and create alternative sources of income.

Ksh. 110 million Boost for Makueni Fruit Processing Project

Makueni county government has received a grant of Sh 110 million from the European Union to support the ongoing fruit processing project.

The money will be injected into the Kalamba fruit processing project and used to initiate the expansion of the plant to enable it turn into a multi-processor and to create a packaging line.

The grant is part of Sh 3 billion to be allocated to 15 counties for Local Economic Development projects.

The targeted projects include construction of markets, abattoirs, fruit and milk processing factories, food storage, dairy, seed production and multiplication and fish processing.

Last year Makueni launched a fruit and milk processing plants at Kalamba and Kikima respectively.

Other counties expected to benefit from the funds include Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Tana River, Samburu, West Pokot, Laikipia, among others.

Makueni governor Professor Kivutha Kibwana witnessed the signing of LED-IDEAS proposal by County Secretary Paul Wasanga and Devolution PS Nelson Marwa.

Makueni is the first county to comply with the European Union conditions for the grant.

Some of the compliance requirements include high standards of fruit production, good agricultural practices and devolved decision making through committees.

Counties seeking the grant are also required to observe strict anti-corruption tendencies and good governance in their operations.

They are also required to come up with projects that transform livelihoods economically.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, European Union representative Vincent De Boer graced the event.

“This marks the beginning of the actual implementation of the IDEAS (Instruments for devolution advise and support) a programme whose financing agreement was signed between the Government of Kenya and the European Union,” Mr Boer said

A New Dawn for Coffee Farmers in Makueni

New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (New KPCU) is seeking to collaborate with Makueni county government to upscale the coffee sector in the county.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Monday hosted a high powered delegation from New KPCU to discuss areas of partnership to revamp the sector. The areas include;

• Sensitization and enrolment of coffee farmers to the cherry fund. Makueni coffee farmers are eligible for up to Sh 11 Million worth of cherry fund. The application by farmers for the fund will commence early next month.

• Establishment of a coffee nursery and a demonstration farm,

• Capacity build farmers on best farm practises to increase coffee yield per acre,

• Capacity build coffee Cooperatives Societies on governance and leadership to improve resource management, and

• Linkage to processing, value addition and markets.

KOMEX EYES TO PIONEER DIGITAL AGRICULTURAL TRADING IN MAKUENI.

The Kenya National Multi Commodities Exchange Limited (KOMEX) is set to transform agricultural trading in Makueni through a new digital platform linked to the Warehouse Receipt System.

This was disclosed by a team from KOMEX who paid a courtsy call on Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Tuesday.

The digital trading platform is designed to streamline access to markets for both agricultural and non-agricultural commodities. It will also offer essential services such as price discovery, risk management, market information, trade financing, and other trade support systems, creating a more structured and transparent trading environment.

KOMEX, a financial state corporation under the State Department for Trade, is mandated to promote market access and address inefficiencies in commodity trading.

The platform is currently in the onboarding phase, targeting a broad range of stakeholders including farmers, aggregators, cooperatives, traders, warehouse operators, financial institutions, off-takers, service providers, and institutional consumers.

Led by Deputy Director Boniface Makau, the KOMEX delegation commended Makueni for being the leading producer of pulses, particularly green grams, cowpeas, and pigeon peas in the country, key commodities that stand to benefit greatly from the new trading system.

Through the digital platform, farmers will be able to list their produce and preferred selling prices. Buyers can then make direct payments to sellers’ bank accounts within 48 hours, ensuring faster transactions and reducing exploitation by middlemen.

Deputy Governor Mulili emphasized the need for national legislation to expand storage infrastructure in the counties. She noted that inadequate storage facilities often leave farmers vulnerable to exploitation and called for stronger collaboration between national and county governments to address the gap.

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE IN ACTION

On Monday, the County Treasury welcomed two officials from Kisumu County’s Economic Planning Directorate on a learning mission focused on data and statistics.

As Kisumu prepares its second generation County Statistical Abstract, the delegation is keen to draw inspiration from Makueni’s consistent track record in producing quality statistical abstracts. The County Government of Makueni is currently preparing it’s 6th series.

The visit also explored exciting opportunities for collaboration on statistical policies, strengthening ties between the two counties for better data-driven decision-making.