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Makueni Coffee Farmers To Receive Sh 4.7 Million Worth of Cherry Fund to Enhance Coffee Production

At least 1000 coffee farmers from Kikima Farmers Cooperative Society are beneficiaries of Sh.4.7 Million worth of cherry Fund to boost coffee production and productivity.
This is one of the areas of collaboration between the county government of Makueni and the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union(New KPCU) to revamp the coffee sector in Makueni.
During the official launch of the Cherry Fund at Mulima Coffee factory on Thursday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr announced that his administration will make plans to provide fertilizer and other farm inputs for improved coffee production.
Farmers were sensitized on best agriculture practices for maximum coffee profitability, ahead of a benchmark tour to Mukarimu Farm in Meru, the best coffee farmer in Kenya.

Makueni Coffee Farmers Gain Valuable Insights to Enhance Production and Profitability from Meru Educational Tour

A delegation of 32 coffee farmers from Makueni led by the Countyโ€™s Director of Agriculture Mary Muteti on Tuesday concluded a two-day educational tour in Meru County. The tour to Mukarimu Farm, owned by Charles Mutwiri, a renowned coffee farmer in the country, provided valuable insights into best agricultural practices.

Key highlights of the educational tour include:

1. Proper Crop Establishment and Canopy Management: The emphasis on proper crop establishment and canopy management indicates a focus on optimizing the growth and health of coffee plants. This is crucial for maximizing yield and ensuring the long-term sustainability of coffee farming.

2. High-Quality Coffee Variety: The promotion of high-quality coffee variety underscores the importance of selecting and cultivating coffee plants that yield superior-quality beans. This can contribute to the production of premium coffee products, enhancing the market value of the local coffee.

3. Good Governance of Cooperatives: The mention of good governance in cooperatives suggests that the tour also addressed the organizational and managerial aspects of coffee farming. Efficient cooperative governance is essential for fair distribution of benefits, transparent decision-making, and overall success in the coffee industry.

The fact that the tour was sponsored by the County Government of Makueni demonstrates a commitment to the development of the local coffee sector. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s  administration’s efforts to revamp the Makueni coffee sector indicate a strategic approach to achieving maximum gains for coffee farmers in the region.

Prior initiatives, such as the disbursement of Sh. 4.7 Million worth of Cherry Fund in partnership with the New KPCU PLC , further highlights the commitment to supporting farmers in adopting modern and sustainable farming practices. This financial support aims to increase coffee yields and improve overall farming practices in the region.

The positive response from the farmers, expressing their commitment to implementing the practices they learned during the tour, indicates that the initiative was well-received. The farmers view the tour as an eye-opener to profitable and sustainable coffee farming, suggesting that they are motivated to apply the knowledge gained to enhance their own coffee production.

MAKUENI CHOSEN FOR FIRST-EVER EMERGENCY RESPONSE PILOT.

Makueni County has been selected as the pilot site for a groundbreaking four-year Highway Emergency Response Program launched by St. Johnโ€™s Kenya.

The project, which will stretch along the busy Mombasaโ€“Busia highway, aims to improve emergency medical care at accident-prone zones. It will establish 19 first aid stations, 4 trauma centers, and deploy 4 state-of-the-art ambulances staffed with trained paramedics to deliver timely post-crash care.

Speaking when he visited Makueni County headquarters, Dr. Robert Mutula, Chair of St. Johnโ€™s Kenya, confirmed that Makueni will receive one ambulance, three First Aid posts, and one trauma center as part of the first phase. The national launch is scheduled for November this year in Emali Town.

Dr. Mutula further committed to making Makueni an emergency response hub for the Lower Eastern region by training local community members, including the Bodaboda operators in basic First Aid and victim assessment. Plans also include setting up a major blood transfusion center to serve accident victims in the region.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. hailed the initiative, calling it a God-sent opportunity that will ease the burden of disaster response along the heavily trafficked Mombasa Road, notorious for frequent and often fatal accidents.

Other key officials in attendance included Dr. Alex Muturi (St. Johnโ€™s Council Member), Paul Ngugi (St. Johnโ€™s CEO), CECM Health Joyce Mutua, Dr. Harvey Mulei (Chief Officer โ€“ Health HR & Admin), and Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi (Acting Chief Officer โ€“ Health), among others

MAKUENI CHOIR TAKES CENTER STAGE AT THE PRESTIGIOUS WINNERS CONCERT.

The Makueni County choir had the honor of performing at the Winners Concert, held on Wednesday at the Bomas of Kenya.

The concert celebrated creme de la creme performances from the recently concluded Kenya Music and Cultural Festival, highlighting the country’s rich heritage and diversity.

The performance was attended by several senior government officials, including Eliud Owalo, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President, Ms. Ummi Bashir, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Culture & Heritage, and Dr. Sonia Nzilani, Makueni’s CECM for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism.

MAKUENI CHOIR HEADS TO ELDORET IN STYLE

The Makueni County Choir has been officially flagged off to represent the county at the annual Kenya Music and Cultural Festival in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu.

Entering the competition as the reigning overall choir champions, the choir will showcase their talent in set piece, own composition, mixed voices, zilizopendwa, adaptation arrangements, gospel pieces, and more.

During the prayer-filled flag-off ceremony, Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism Chief Officer, Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani reaffirmed the countyโ€™s dedication to nurturing talent.

She noted that such platforms not only inspire creativity but also position Makueniโ€™s artists for commercial growth and national recognition.

With confidence and artistry, the team carries the pride of Makueni to Eldoretโ€”ready to defend their crown.

MAKUENI CHAMPIONS RESTORATION OF 200,000HA OF DEGRADED LAND ECOSYSTEMS

Makueni County on Saturday joined the rest of the World in commemorating International Day of Forests at KALRO Kiboko, under the theme Forests and Economics, where attendees planted over 1,000 tree seedlings.

Leading the exercise, Chief Officer for Environment, Natural Resources, Mining and Climate Change Dr. Ngovi Muthoka encouraged residents to plant trees extensively, highlighting their role in restoring degraded land, improving livelihoods through products such as fruits and timber and boosting agricultural productivity.

Ngovi said the county government targets the restoration of 200,000 hectares of degraded land in Makueni as part of a broader effort to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability.

The exercise was also graced by key partners including the Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Red Cross Society, Hatua Achievers Association, ChildFund among others.

MAKUENI CHAMPIONS AGROECOLOGY TO BOOST FOOD SECURITY AND RESILIENT FARMING

The Department of Agriculture in collaboration with development partners, on Wednesday held the Makueni Farmersโ€™ Field Day at Kee Ward, bringing together more than 300 farmers for sensitization on agroecology farming practices aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and food security.

The field day, themed ๐˜ˆ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜จ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ: ๐˜๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ด, ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ข ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฎ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜บ, brought together farmers, agricultural officers and stakeholders to showcase environmentally friendly farming methods that reduce dependence on harmful chemicals while improving farm productivity.

During the event, farmers were trained on the use of organic manure, mulching, crop rotation, intercropping, natural pest control and water harvesting technologies to improve soil health and conserve moisture.

Speaking during the field day, County Executive Committee Member Damaris Kavoi encouraged farmers to embrace agroecology practices, noting that the approach plays a key role in restoring soil fertility, conserving the environment and enhancing food production through safe and sustainable farming methods.

The event was attended by Chief Officer for Agriculture Japheth Kiminza, who noted that the adoption of agroecology practices would help lower production costs by reducing reliance on expensive farm inputs while improving yields and soil health. He reaffirmed the county governmentโ€™s commitment to supporting farmers through strengthened agricultural extension services and the promotion of climate-smart agriculture across the county.

Key partners including Pelum Kenya, Biovision Africa Trust, Effective IPM Association, INADES-Formation and Agroecology Fund emphasized the need for farmers to embrace sustainable farming systems to enhance food security, improve nutrition and build resilience against climate change.

Makueni celebrates success of keeping babies HIV-Free

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With smiles on their faces, a group of mothers from Makueni are celebrating the graduation of their children, not the ordinary graduation but all the 40 children are HIV-free born by HIV positive mothers.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr accompanied by Dr. Jennifer Galbraith, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- Kenya Director for the Division of Global HIV and TB on Tuesday launched the countyโ€™s HIV transition roadmap – a key sustainability pillar for HIV programming as well as leading in the celebrations.
The support from the U.S. CDC and Makueni County is helping to eliminate pediatric HIV by 2027.
Governor Mutula termed stopping the transmission of HIV from mother to child as critical adding that no infant or young child should acquire HIV when there are universally accessible medicines to prevent such from happening.
However, he assured the County will revamp HIV awareness campaigns challenging men to take a central role in ensuring they get tested.
He praised the mothers for taking their antiretroviral medicine consistently and correctly, hence keeping their infants HIV-free during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding period.
Dr. Jennifer said due to the continued support in the County, HIV viral suppression stands at 96% saying if maintained then there will be reduced HIV transmission.

MAKUENI CELEBRATES SUCCESS AS 175 GRADUATE FROM ADDICTION

At least 175 addicts of drugs and substances abuse from Makueni have had a road to Damascus moment after undergoing rehabilitation and counselling by the department of health services.

The 175 graduated on Wednesday from different forms of addiction after an 8-week rehabilitation therapy by psychiatrists from the counselling unit based in the health department.

Some of those who were deeply immersed in different forms of addiction shared agonizing experiences of how their lives had turned upside down, from absconding work, school, neglecting families to sliding into depression.

The county government is working with other partners to re-integrate these champions back to the society and offer after care to prevent relapses to addiction.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili who graced the graduation ceremony at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote said the county government will budget for a rehabilitation centre to reach more people stuck in addiction.

MAKUENI CELEBRATED FOR OUTSTANDING BUDGET TRANSPARENCY

May 24, 2024

Makueni County Government has been lauded for its budget transparency, securing the second position consecutively in the annual survey conducted by the International Budget Partnership Kenya for Financial Year 2022/23, with an impressive score of 80 per cent.

The survey assessed key budget documents such as County Budget and Review Paper, County Fiscal Strategy Paper, Citizens/Mwananchi Budgets, County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) and the Annual Developent Plan. Makueni had the most comprehensive County Integrated Development Plan 2023-27.

Other documents assessed were Approved Programme Based Budgets, 

Quarterly Budget Implementation Reports and the Finance Act.

Finance and Budget Executive Damaris Kavoi on Friday received the award on behalf of the county government at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.

She emphasized the importance of transparency for effective planning, accountability, and citizen engagement. This recognition bolsters the county’s credibility with donors and partners. 

Kavoi was accompanied by Planning Chief Officer Mutua Boniface and staff from the department.