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KILIFI COUNTY BENCHMARKS MAKUENI’S EXCELLENCE IN MATERNAL AND NEWBORN HEALTHCARE

Makueni County on Wednesday hosted a delegation from Kilifi County at the Makueni County Referral Hospital for a learning visit aimed at sharing best practices in maternal and newborn healthcare.

The delegation, comprising facility management teams and Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) care providers, visited the hospital to benchmark on the innovative approaches that have positioned Makueni County Referral Hospital as a centre of excellence in the delivery of quality maternal and newborn health services.

The bench-marking exercise focused on operational workflows, staffing models, use of health data to drive quality improvement, maternal and perinatal mortality surveillance and response, as well as strategies for sustaining quality care and improving health outcomes.

Health officials noted that the exchange of knowledge and experiences between counties is key to strengthening healthcare systems and accelerating the reduction of preventable maternal and newborn deaths across the country.

The visit reaffirmed Makueni County’s growing reputation as a leader in healthcare innovation, with its successful models continuing to attract learning delegations from other counties seeking to improve service delivery and enhance patient outcomes.

KIKUU–KAWALA WATER PROJECT TO DELIVER CLEAN WATER TO 6,000 NZAUI/KILILI/KALAMBA RESIDENTS

Over 6,000 residents of Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba Ward are set to benefit from clean, safe and reliable water following the launch of the Kshs 16 million Kikuu–Kawala Water Project, funded through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program.

Construction of the project will commence immediately, following site handover to a contractor by Makueni’s Climate Change Unit officers on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Once completed, the project will provide year-round water supply to residents of Upper and Lower Mutulani, Mutanda, Iuluka, Kawala, Kyaani, Mikooni, Kithukini, Itulu, Ngomano, Kyanguu, Ilingoni, Kwa Mutumia and Kanzili clusters.

Key institutions set to benefit include Kawala Primary and Secondary Schools, Kawala CTTI and Kawala Dispensary. The project entails the construction of a 100,000-litre sump along Kikuu River, a solar-powered pumping system, water distribution lines and storage tanks to ensure sustainable and reliable water access.

To enhance community resilience to drought and food insecurity, the project will also establish a climate-smart agriculture demonstration farm at Kawala CTTI for community sensitization. Additionally, a tree nursery and pasture development initiatives will be implemented as part of the project, which is expected to be completed within six months.

Kikome Irrigation Scheme to Put 50 Acres under Irrigation in Kitise

Kikome Irrigation scheme in Kitise-Kithuki Ward is 70% complete, Agriculture and Irrigation Chief Officer Daniel Ndolo has said.
 
Ndolo toured the scheme on Thursday to check on the status of the project and fast-track its completion.
Kikome is one of the 11 micro-irrigation schemes being implemented through the Small-Scale Irrigation and Value Addition Project (SIVAP) in partnership with the county government of Makueni.
 
Once complete, the scheme will benefit 100 households and irrigate 50 acres with different high-value crops like capsicum, spinach, kale, green maize and fruit trees.
The county government through the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development is also establishing 2 large irrigation schemes, that is, Utangwa and Kyeemwea in Mbooni and Kaiti Sub-Counties respectively.
 
The micro and large irrigation schemes will irrigate 600 acres to help enhance food security in Makueni.

KIBWEZI WEST GIRLS UNIFIED FOOTBALL TEAM IS THE CHAMPION OF THE FIRST EDITION OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED FOOTBALL COMPETITION IN AFRICA HELD IN MAKUENI

Finals of the competition successfully came to close on Sunday and graced by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and County Commissioner Henry Wafula.

Six teams composed of under 18 girls and six of those above 18 participated in the 2-day finals held in Wote.

Each of the six subcounties was represented by a senior and a junior team being the champions from Ward and Sub- county competitions.

Governor Mutula termed this tourney an important tool for inculcating societal inclusivity by according those living with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to grow their talents.

KIBWEZI LEVEL 3 HOSPITAL HOSTS FIRST-EVER MATERNITY OPEN DAY TO BOOST MATERNAL HEALTH

In a step towards achieving zero maternal mortality, Kibwezi Level 3 Hospital hosted its first-ever Maternity Open Day on valentine day,a milestone event dedicated to celebrate mothers and newborns while promoting reproductive health, family planning, safe delivery, and postnatal self-care.

The event, which attracted 250 women aged 18-45, grouped participants into antenatal cohorts of 30-40 based on their gestation periods, ensuring targeted and effective engagement.

According to Dr. Kakundi Blustus, medical superintendent of Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital, the hospital has achieved an impressive 90% hospital delivery rate, thanks to focused maternal health initiatives.

During the event, Patricia Mutinda, the hospital’s Nursing Officer, distributed diapers to the attendees while commending lactating mothers and expectant women for their proactive participation.

She also applauded midwives, who have emerged as key hospital ambassadors by shifting from traditional midwifery to modern healthcare practices.

Dr. Kakundi urged transformed midwives and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to remain vigilant in monitoring pregnant women, emphasizing that consistent follow-ups are crucial for ensuring timely antenatal clinic visits throughout all trimesters.

Kibwana urges Uhuru to be firm in war against graft

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana has lauded President Uhuru Kenyatta’s firm position in the war against corruption and urged him on saying the vice must be eradicated.
The governor said the President has personally maintained high integrity in public life and urged him not to relent in the war against the vice.
Prof Kibwana known for strong governance credentials urged the President not to spare efforts to crush corrupt networks in his government warning that they may derail efforts he has made to develop the country and water down the good legacy he was developing.
 “The President of this country has not been mentioned in any incident of corruption. We are also happy he has promised to strictly fight the vice,”Prof Kibwana said.
President Kenyatta has already ordered thorough investigations into a number of recent scandals and asked relevant agencies to prosecute masterminds.
Prof Kibwana also said that ethnicity is a major threat to the country’s economy saying that it must be dealt with in the same veil as corruption.
“Tribalism has become widespread in the country we need to ask God for forgiveness for corruption and tribalism,”Prof Kibwana stated.
He said that billions tapped by corrupt networks would help stabilize the economy if Kenya achieved a corruption free status.
“Theft of public resources has become so rampant in our country,we must combine forces to deal with corrupt people in our midst,” the governor said.
The Governor was speaking on Sunday at Makueni Boys High School when he joined Salvation Army faithfuls during the Kenya East Territorial self-denial ingathering conducted by territorial Commander Commissioner Henry Nyagah.
Commissioner Nyagah lauded Prof Kibwana and his government for involving the church in his leadership saying the church was one of the key stakeholders in matters development.
“I would like to appreciate Governor Kibwana and his government for working closely with the church. I am happy to say that I have met with his deputy Adelina Mwau and some of the Makueni Ward representatives in church functions. I know they love the church,” Nyagah stated.
Other top government officials present were Executive Committee Members Bob Kisyula (Water),Lawrence Nzunga (Agriculture) and Eng Sebastian Kyoni (Transport).
  • May 28, 2018 in News

Kibwana urges counties to embrace volunteerism

County governments have been urged to promote volunteerism in order to engage a huge chunk of jobless young people who could gain experience by offering services probono.

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana said that time has come to introduce the culture of volunteerism in Kenya as away of tapping the human resource that may be required by governments to deliver certain crucial services but which due to lack of resources cannot be fully engaged.

He said though the Kenyan society has been practising volunteerism the idea is yet to be fully entrenched in the society for the benefit of both the people and the governments.

“Even in the 60s people volunteered to fight for independence.In the 80s and 90s in this country Professionals volunteered time to help us develop our 2010 constitution,”Prof Kibwana said when he made his opening remarks during the African Probono Volunteerism Conference at the Boma hotel on Wednesday.

The governor said that his government has embraced volunteerism by initiating an annual recruitment drive for graduate interns who are allowed to work for the county for at least six months.

“When we came to government in 2013 we decided that volunteerism is important.We initiated an internship, mentor ship and volunteerism programmers,bringing on board graduates who are not salaried to work in various departments,”he said.

The governor said that his government is also dependent on local professionals who always come in to give support and offer solutions to problems affecting the county.

Prof Kibwana who was the chief guest at the event said governments have a heavy burden of having to deliver services to the people but sometimes lack the capacity to do so.

“I think and everyone knows that governments cannot provide and supply all that we need.That is why volunteerism is important.We should encourage our people to embrace the idea of probono movement,”Prof Kibwana stated.

Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Orlando Lyomu who also attended the event said the media has a major role to play in supporting the breeding of volunteerism.

“We need to ensure the role of the media is not just about recording but encourage development of volunteers and their breeding,”Mr Lyomu said.

Japanese International Corporation Agency  (Jica) Senior Representative Katsuya Kuge said Japan supported the voluntary initiatives in Kenya through Jica dispatch program.

  • July 4, 2018 in News

KIBWANA UNVEILS CANCER UNIT AT MAKUENI REFERRAL HOSPITAL

Makueni County on Thursday opened doors to its first cancer treatment and management clinic at the Makueni Referral Hospital, Wote.

The clinic is courtesy of the EMPOWER PROJECT, a partnership bringing together Roche, International Cancer Institute (ICI), Women for Cancer and African Cancer Foundation.

The County First Ladies Association (CFLA) was key in realizing the clinic by mobilizing all the partners and resources including the county government and Family Bank which donated five Chemotherapy chairs for the cancer unit.

Speaking at the event, governor Kivutha Kibwana said his administration will commit adequate budgetary provisions for essential supplies and human resources to ensure that the rising burden of cancer in Makueni is reversed.

He said that before establishment of the unit, patients used to travel to Kenyatta National Hospital and private facilities for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. This, he said, was expensive and time consuming. It was associated with delays, with patients sometimes missing treatment due to long queues as well as lack of follow up and poor outcomes

So far, the county government has seconded an Oncologist Pharmacist, 2 clinical officers, one nurse and one records officer for the coordination of the unit. Further, it is in the process of recruiting 2 oncology clinical officers, 2 oncology nurses, a radiologist and a pathologist to support the increasing traffic at the centre.

Makueni becomes the fifth county to unveil the EMPOWER CANCER CLINIC after Kisumu, Bungoma, Meru and Taita Taveta.

CFLA chairperson Maria Mbeneka (Laikipia) said the aim of pushing for establishment of the cancer clinics in counties is to enhance early cancer detection, treatment and management while reducing the prohibitive costs of treatment.

The event at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote was graced by 15 county first ladies among them host Nazi Kivutha, Edna Lenku-Kajiado, Sarah Tunai-Narok, Saline Barchok-Bomet, Wato Kuti-Isiolo, Elizabeth Kinyanjui-Nakuru and Sheila Sang-Nandi.

Others were Priscilla Murungi- Meru, Priscilla Oparanya-Kakamega, Christine Mvurya-Kwale, Dorothy Nyong’o- Kisumu, Stellah Samboja- Taita Taveta and Ivy Bunei of Baringo County.

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Kibwana Tips County Lawmakers on Public Participation and Civic Education

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana has urged counties to invest in civic education and public participation as a way of facilitating mindset change and enabling the people to take charge of devolution.

Prof Kibwana said poverty, dependency syndrome and community pulse cannot be overcome without the change of mindsets.

He told the County Assembly Members’ Forum in Mombasa on Thursday that engaging the people through public participation was an easy way of helping grow confidence in the management of devolved resources.

“Counties need to invest in civic education, community capacity building and mindset change programs,” said Prof Kibwana.

He also said that legislators need to devolve power, authority and mandate to community members so that they can plan and decide on the issues that affect them.

Prof Kibwana stated: “County governments have to relinquish to the development committees powers to design priorities and even to execute what can be done at community level.”

He noted that there was need for the county governments to come up with capacity building plans for the development committees saying that the capacities become the basis upon which poverty eradication measures and techniques are discussed.

Prof Kibwana said that public participation is not just about gatherings in town halls and therefore should be handled systematically to provide the real needs and priorities for the communities.

“Communities have the solutions for their problems. They lack the capacity and opportunities to plan for themselves and defend what clearly belong to them,” said the governor.

He further added: “Let us devolve the powers of participation to the communities and watch the poser of self-governance taking over this country through our counties.”

More than 2,000 members of the county assemblies and senators are participating in the forum which started on Monday.

Kibwana signs Cancer Care Deal with Two International Cancer Organizations

Governor Kivutha Kibwana has signed a cancer management deal with two international cancer organizations which will position the county as a centre of excellence in cancer care.

The deal, signed Thursday at Wote, brings together the International Cancer Institute (ICI) and Roche Kenya Limited (a leading pharmaceuticals and tissue-based cancer diagnostics company) to partner with Makueni on cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases management.

The deal seeks to undertake an integrated care model in the county for; breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, lymphomas, hypertension, diabetes, and mental health at the primary health care level through the referral system to the Makueni County Referral Hospital.


The two organizations will support Makueni CRH as a treatment center for oncology services and a comprehensive screening and outreach center for the same.

International Cancer Institute Chief Executive Officer Prof. Chite Asirwa, a cancer and blood specialist who signed the partnership for ICI said the organization will provide on a rotation basis mentors: 1 oncologist, 1 gynecologic oncologist, 1-2 surgical oncologists, 1 pathologist, 1 medical officer, 2-3 clinical officers, 2-3 nurse educators, 1 community liaison, and 6 community health promoters to support the Makueni treatment centre.

He said the partnership will emphasize on accessible and affordable cancer prevention, cure and improved quality management for those living with the condition, which he says has been elusive and the reason many Kenyans fly to India and other far off destinations for treatment.

Governor Kibwana said the deal will save many residents of Makueni the agony of having to sleep on the floors of Kenyatta National Hospital as they queue for cancer treatment or selling assets to fly out of the country in search of such services.

He said the deal for set up of cancer treatment centres in counties was brokered by the County First Ladies Association (CFLA) chaired by his spouse Nazi Kivutha who was present during the signing of the partnership agreement.

Data from the department of Health Services in Makueni show the county has a high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, a growing burden of cervical, prostate and breast cancer as well as sickle cell disease and unchecked mental health issues.

The Makueni CRH registered 253 cases of the above illnesses combined between July 2015 and June 2019.