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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.

  • April 27, 2018 in News

Kibwana, Senator Meet Leaders Over Flooding Crisis

Makueni County leaders led by Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana on Wednesday met to deliberate on how to mitigate the effects of heavy flooding in parts of the county occasioned ‎by the current heavy rains.

The leaders discussed emergency response to restore normalcy after several households were affected and at least four people killed by the raging floods.

During the meeting which happened on the sidelines of the Kakamega devolution conference ,Prof Kibwana said that concerted efforts by all elected leaders was required to address the ongoing catastrophic floods.

“Lets bring on board even our members of the national assembly to save our people from this emergency,” said the governor.

While  addressing the meeting, senator Mutula Junior encouraged  MCAs  to initiate talks with the MPs despite their political affiliations to face the catastrophy together for the safety of the people of Makueni.

“I know some of us here talk with the MPs. Go  and start talking with them so that we can solve this menace together,” Mutula said.

  • April 27, 2018 in News

3,500 Delegates Visit Makueni Exhibition Booth at the Kakamega Devolution Bazaar

The Makueni county exhibition tent at the Kakamega devolution conference was a major attraction throughout the devolution bazaar as delegates and other exhibitors took time out to admire some of the products on show.

About 3,500 delegates signed in at the  county exhibition booth to view exciting documentaries on development and infrastructural progress achieved so far.

The county has been admired by many due to progressive implementation of major development projects.

The mention of Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana’s name during the conference was always received with massive applause forcing him to always stand and wave to the delegates to acknowledge their good reception.

Many delegates scrambled to greet the governor every time he walked out of the conference venue with hundreds demanding for selfies with Prof Kibwana who has become a devolution superstar.

Yesterday the county deputy health promotion officer Bretta Mutisya who was leading the county exhibitors said the visits to the booth were massive with many coming to watch the documentaries while others sampled some of the products on display.

“We have interacted with so many guests during this conference. My colleagues who came with products have sold them out. People have picked handbooks from here to familiarize with our development story,” said Ms Mutisya.

Some of the products on show included mango jam, juice, makueni fresh milk, various branded original honey and several booklets detailing development projects by the county.

Several governors and top executives attending the conference also passed by the booth to witness the various development projects being showcased.

Many were interested in the mango juice following the story of Makueni Fruit Processing factory while others asked questions on how the county managed an elaborate universal healthcare system with the scanty resources allocated.

On Tuesday,  Makueni became the talk of the conference after President Uhuru Kenyatta made several references to Governor Kivutha Kibwana acknowledging the initiatives implemented under his government.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also echoed the president’s sentiments when he addressed the conference on Wednesday.

  • April 27, 2018 in News

Makueni Case Becomes the Reference Point at the 5th Devolution Conference

Development in Makueni County has become a major reference point in this year’s devolution conference with many speakers urging other counties to visit for bench marking.

President Uhuru Kenyatta started it all when in his live televised speech broadcast to delegates through a link acknowledged that Makueni and Mandera counties have made strides worth emulating.

“I commend governor Kibwana for rolling out in Makueni their own version of subsidized healthcare and food processing plant,” said President Kenyatta.

He urged other counties to emulate Makueni County led by Prof. Kivutha Kibwana adding that prudent use of public of funds allocated to county governments was key to successful implementation of devolution.

Prof Kibwana hailed the President for a good speech adding that his invitation to counties to work closely with his government was worthy.

Other speakers at the conference including Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang praised Kibwana and urged other counties to benchmark from Makueni instead of flying to foreign countries like Singapore for the same.

“The other day we invited Prof Kibwana to the Senate,he did not complain. He came with his entire government including the speaker and we took a whole day looking at the issues raised. Other governors should follow this,”Mr Kajwang said.

And while making a presentation on governance and public participation at the Conference on Thursday Prof Kibwana said that his decision to attend the senate summons was because the people of Makueni had asked him to do so.

“One of the reasons why we appeared at the Senate when we were summoned is because it is the people who had asked us to go. By failing to go it means we would then get into problems with them,”Prof Kibwana said.

He talked of Makueni’s village to village set up in the public participation approach adding that up to 120,000 people participated in this year’s County Integrated Development Plan validation in over 3,000 villages.

“Some leaders are afraid of the Public Participation because the people will ask you questions when you go to them,” said Prof Kibwana.

He also said that Makueni  County  will, as a way of enhancing the public participation approach, initiate an open contracting system so that it is clear who asked for what jobs and who are the directors of the bidding companies.

Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau is also attending the conference bringing together multi-sectoral stakeholders in the devolution sector including all governors and senators.

  • April 25, 2018 in News

Top German Firm Ready to Partner with Makueni for Roads Constructions and Minerals Exploration

A leading Germany company specialized in roads construction, equipment and mineral extraction technologies has expressed its interest in partnering with Makueni County.

The German company is now among several international and local organizations that have shown interest in the unexplored mineral world of Makueni County.

During the Road Technology Days 2018 workshop which took place in Ludwigshafen, Germany, the company indicated it was ready to partner with Makueni County in developing and constructing low cost rural sector roads.

Makueni County ECM for Roads, Transport, Energy and Public works Eng. Sebastian Kyoni who is in Germany welcomed the move by Wirtgen Group GmbH to venture into the local road works and the mining sector.

“I have represented our case here very well and we are hopeful that the interest shown by the Wirtgen Group will be escalated to the next level. Some 4000 delegates are also attending this workshop,”Mr Kyoni said.

The company will as well assist in acquisition of equipment and technology transfer to the county roads team on low cost rural roads construction techniques through Panafrican Equipment Kenya Limited, its subsidiary in Kenya

Nazi Signs MoU on Menstrual Hygiene Management

Makueni County First lady Nazi Kivutha on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the County First Ladies Association, African cotton Industries Limited and Kenya Red Cross Society.

The tripartite partnership is geared towards implementing menstrual hygiene management program across all the counties

The main agenda of the MoU is to create awareness on adolescent reproductive health needs and provision of conducive policy and social environment for menstrual management

Nazi, who is also the chairperson to the First Ladies association, said the MoU will create a platform in which the parties will cooperate in the realization of the respective strategies and plans.

“The program will focus on menstrual hygiene management, adolescent sexual and reproductive health education, nutrition education, mentorship and life skills development and policy influence,” the First Lady said.

According to Nazi, the program will be launched on May 3, 2018 before a coordinated implementation can kick off

She said the purpose of the MoU was to lay out the framework for collaboration between the parties adding that it will help promote joint actions by the three groups.

The parties will in accordance with the provisions of the MoU, Nazi said will endeavor to work together and maintain a continuous working relationship.

Activities to be undertaken under the MoU will be identified and jointly implemented by the parties.

Also to be undertaken includes advocacy for reproductive health, campaign against FGM and early childhood marriages among other Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues.

The First Ladies Association will help the group with mobilization of resources, mentorship, coordination and administration of the program

  • April 19, 2018 in News

Minister Tips Teachers on Energy-saving Technology

Secondary Schools in Makueni County have been urged to use environmental friendly rocket stoves in order to save on the cost of fuel and ensure a clean environment. County Executive Committee Member for Roads,Transport and Energy Eng Sebastian Kyoni said that rocket stoves could help schools save millions spent on cooking fuel per annually.

He advised that schools could adopt the usage of rocket stoves known for efficient firewood consumption to protect the environment and cut fuel costs. He said the stoves were good in maximizing heat transfer to the food being cooked and created improved working conditions and production of healthy food.

“This is a new technology that our schools must all move to. It will help a great deal in reducing environmental degradation,”Mr Kyoni said. The ECM who was addressing teachers during this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association conference for Makueni head teachers in Mombasa also advised schools to use solar as a way of saving on energy.

He said Makueni being one of the counties known for longer sunny seasons could turn the solar menace into a real blessing by investing on solar energy. “Makueni receives sunshine throughout the year making it conducive for solar energy harvesting,” Eng Kyoni said.

Makueni County Has Spent 265 Million on Bursaries and Scholarships since 2013

Ksh. 265 Million Spent on Bursaries and Scholarships since 2013

Makueni County government has spent Sh 265 million on bursaries and scholarships to support students from poor families to pursue education.

Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau said the government is putting more resources on education as it acknowledges it is an investment for the future of the county.

She said that the county has also been giving out full scholarships to bright needy students adding that 190 beneficiaries have so far been listed since 2013.

She further indicated that 79 students have further benefited from the program this financial year.

“The government of Makueni county acknowledges education as an investment for our children, being the most important aspect in empowering our youth to become responsible and productive citizens ,”the Deputy Governor said.

But the DG also told teachers that incidences of sexual assaults were in the increase and that it could compromise learning in the area.

She said that as part of the government’s decision to support empowerment on gender based violence and sexual abuses an outreach program will be initiated in schools.

“I am glad to inform you that the government of Makueni County is in the process of initiating a school outreach program for children in our county,” she said.

She said the program has been necessitated by the increasing cases of sexual and gender based violence incidences in the county including defilement, incest, rape, verbal and psychological abuse, domestic violence and sexual harassment among others.

The Deputy governor decried the alarming levels of sexual violence cases in Makueni County despite existence of legislations meant to deal harshly with perpetrators.

The Deputy Governor appreciated the role played by teachers in nurturing and mentoring young people adding that it required dedication to accomplish.

“I wish to state that teachers are role models and mentors and the kind of values that are inculcated in the children have direct effect on society and the development of our children,” said the Deputy Governor

She was speaking when she closed the sixth edition of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association-Makueni Chapter at the Travelers Hotel in Mombasa.

She was accompanied by several top government officials led by County Secretary Paul Wasanga among others.

Mr Wasanga said that teachers are key to the county’s economic empowerment adding that governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana’s regime would work closely with them to achieve four key pillars of the county’s development plan.

“Our main agenda is to ensure economic empowerment for our people and to maske clean portable water available to households in Makueni,”Mr Wasanga told the Kessha members.

Water Committees to be Dissolved: Kisyula

Water Committees to be Dissolved

Water committees in Makueni County will be dissolved and new ones reconstituted to ensure efficiency in the management of the critical water sector in the county Water Executive Committee Member Robert Kisyula has said.

Mr Kisyula said that his department was keen to oversee an efficient water sector adding that supply of water to Makueni County residents is top priority issue in the county government.

“We are going to dissolve all the water committees in Makueni and reconstitute new ones. We have a very high target set in the water sector which we must meet,” the ECM said.

He was speaking in Mombasa where county officials met Secondary school head teachers during this year’s Kessha Conference for Makueni Chapter held at the Travellers Beach Resort.

Mr Kisyula urged secondary schools heads to partner with the county government to achieve the water agenda.

The ECM said that institutions should harvest rain water from roofs to make sure that all public and private institutions have sufficient potable water.

“If every school in Makueni had tanks to harvest the water that runs during rainy seasons, the shortage of water in schools and nearby communities would be a thing of the past,” the ECM said.

Rain water harvesting according to Mr Kisyula is one of the game changers in making another Makueni possible where every household has sufficient potable water for domestic use in order to stop the “ fetching water ideology” in the county.

“Since we were kids, we were taught that water is fetched. We wait for the rain to pour down for a whole night then the following morning we follow it to the rivers when it is already contaminated,” he explained.

He further added that every household in the county is capable of becoming food secure and economically empowered by adopting the “1 acre rule” initiative.

Makueni County has since the wake of devolution done several dams and sand dams as well as drilled boreholes and collaborated with various development partners through the Billion Dollar Business Alliance to ensure that all households have access to clean water.

He further challenged the heads to set good examples in the villages by installing at least two 100M3 water tanks in their homesteads, adding that it will ensure availability of potable water supply for domestic use for a whole year.

Kessha Makueni Chapter chairman Julius Mutwii who was the host said teachers are appreciating the support given by the county government including sponsorship of various teachers projects including scholarships to students.

“We are very happy with progress being made by our county. Infact the whole country is talking about Makueni.And they are doing so positively, ” said Mr Mutwii.

Other top government officials who graced the KESSHA conference included the deputy governor Adelina Mwau, county secretary Paul Wasanga, CEC, Roads, transport and energy, Engineer Sebastian Kyoni and CEC for Education and ICT, Dr. Naomi Makau.

  • April 13, 2018 in Water

Tell us in advance when government is facing cash crunch: Kibwana

Governors now want the national treasury to give clear and prior information regarding delays in disbursement of cash for counties to stop anticipatory budgeting.Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana warned that unreliable cash releases has forced many counties to abandon projects after failing to honour promises to suppliers and contractors following lengthy delays in disbursement of county allocations by the Treasury.

Prof Kibwana who was speaking at the inaugural retreat of the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights  in Malindi said that counties need to know the actual cash release schedules to enable them to plan how to roll out their programs.

The governor urged the senate to intervene over the delays which he said had paralyzed many counties’ programs leaving many peripheral governments fighting legal battles with contractors.

“I have advised that there should be a candid discussion every time the National Government faces a financial shortfall so that counties don’t budget in anticipation for money that will not come,” Prof Kibwana told Senators at the Ocean Beach Resort in Malindi.

The governor who made a presentation on safeguarding constitutionalism in the implementation of devolution also urged the senate to harmonize their mandate so that counties are not forced into situations where they have to face two parallel inquiries from the senate and county assemblies on the same matter sometimes with conflicting verdicts.

“Though am not complaining as a person it would have been better if the senate came up with an harmonized understanding on how to do oversight. So that governors do not have to face same inquiries at the Senate and at the County assemblies-sometimes ending up with clashing resolutions,” Prof Kibwana noted.

He further told the Senators who also included Speaker Kenneth Lusaka that governors had asked to have an inquiry on county finances for which they had been summoned to appear from next week postponed to give them time to conclude similar processes already underway at the county assemblies.

“We have been asked to appear in the Senate over audit queries from Monday. I personally have no problem with that. But the council of governors has requested that you postpone it to allow us clear with county assemblies who have also summoned governors over the same,” the Governor said.

The governor said that usurping of functions already devolved and neglect of others that should be undertaken by the national government was a major crisis at the county level.

“Sometimes the national government is holding on to functions that should be done by counties but counties are also forced to step in sometimes initiating projects that should be undertaken by national government like coming up with scholarships and the rest,” he said.

The governor who represented the Council of Governors at the retreat also said that the release of equalization fund which was meant for poor counties was delayed under the first devolution regime and called for intervention of the senate to ensure timely releases.

Prof Kibwana also urged the senate to support calls for the release of more funds to the counties adding that the 15 percent allocation so far which has accumulated to over 1 trillion shillings for the last five years was not enough.

Mr Lusaka said that the Senate will support governors adding that though the first senate may have failed in achieving its mandate when Senators locked themselves up in sibling rivalry battles with governors the second senate is changing the game.

“We are not here to frustrate the governors. We will facilitate them to ensure devolution works,” said Mr Lusaka himself a former governor.

He said that the Senate will as from July initiate a rotational assembly scheduling of its sessions which will be hosted by various counties starting with Uasingishu in July.

“We are going to hold our assemblies at the counties. This will be rotational and we will start from July, “he said.

He also promised to ensure that senate works on the clarity on its roles and that of the county assemblies to eliminate duplication of roles.

Justice Jactone Ojwang who attended the retreat to represent the Chief Justice  admitted that the judiciary had in certain cases gone overboard in making some rulings adding that it is not the work of the courts to fetch for cases.

  • April 11, 2018 in News