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MAKUENI COUNTY KICKS OFF PREPARATION OF ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR 2025/26 FINANCIAL YEAR

The County Treasury has commenced preparations for the third Annual Development Plan (ADP) to implement the County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027 (CIDP III).

The department is working closely with 8 sectors representing various county departments and agencies to establish strategic priorities for the 2025/26 financial year.

The ADP serves as the framework to guide resource allocation to priority projects and programs.

Socio-Economic Planning Chief Officer Boniface Mutua said that this ADP will provide an opportunity for the government to stimulate economic growth at the grassroots through the integration of various sectors.

Mutua spoke on Thursday when he officially opened the Sector Working Groups session in Wote.

The process also involves reviewing achievements, challenges encountered, and lessons learned from the previous plan

Before submission to the county assembly for approval by September 1, 2024, the document will undergo stakeholder engagement and public participation.

NCPB COMMENDS MAKINDU GRAIN PLANT QUALITY STANDARDS.

County Executive Committe Member for Agriculture Joyce Mutua in the company of National Cereals and Produce Board representative Joseph Mutahi on Wednesday inspected the Makindu Integrated Grain Processing Plant to assess its efficiency, capacity, and quality standards prior to its official opening.

Impressed by the stringent quality measures put in place, Mutahi pledged to expedite issuance of grading certificates, ensuring produce from the plant hits the market, both locally and internationally.

When fully operational, the facility will process up to 2 metric tonnes of grain per hour. It features a silo storage capacity of 200 metric tonnes, a drying system for optimal moisture levels, and a grading/packaging area catering to diverse market needs. This plant is a crucial component of Governor Mutula’s food security agenda for Makueni County.

MAKUENI COUNTY TEAMS UP WITH CPHD TO ENHANCE MATERNAL HEALTHCARE THROUGH AI INNOVATIONS

In a significant stride towards enhancing maternal healthcare, the Makueni County Department of Health Services has forged a strategic partnership with the Center for Public Health and Development (CPHD) to bolster referral systems. The initiative aims to revolutionize access to cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI Point-of-Care Ultrasound (AI POCUS).

The collaboration, which targets improving access, utilization, and the quality of antenatal care services for expectant mothers, marks Makueni as one of Kenya’s 18 representative counties for this pioneering effort.

Dr. Paul Musila, the County Executive Committee Member for Health Services, underscored the initiative’s importance, highlighting that selected health facilities will soon integrate AI POCUS capabilities. This technological advancement is poised to strengthen the bond between pregnant women and healthcare providers, while also engaging government regulators and financing bodies in the process.

The partnership with CPHD is poised to establish a supportive environment conducive to policy and regulatory reforms, facilitating the widespread adoption of AI-enabled point-of-care ultrasound technology across Makueni County.

GOVERNMENT OF MAKUENI STEPS UP SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS

Addressing the pressing challenges posed by poverty and vulnerability, the government of Makueni has taken decisive action to support its most marginalized citizens.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili led a distribution effort on Wednesday, providing blankets, mattresses, and essential food items to elderly residents, persons living with disabilities, and other vulnerable individuals across the county.

The initiative, which unfolded in Masongaleni ward and reached residents from 15 local clusters, aims to offer warmth and comfort during the current chilly weather.

Mulili emphasized the administration’s commitment, under Governor Mutula Kilonzo’s leadership, to safeguarding and empowering vulnerable groups, ensuring they feel valued and supported within the community.

“This program is crucial in preventing our elderly population from falling below the poverty line,” Mulili stated, highlighting ongoing plans to extend similar assistance to other wards in the near future.

Peter Mumo, Executive Committee Member for Gender, urged Makueni residents to actively participate in public forums where developmental decisions are made. He emphasized the importance of community engagement in driving meaningful progress.

Echoing this sentiment,Member of County Assembly Brian Nzoka underscored the pivotal role of public participation in achieving impactful development outcomes. He emphasized that inclusive decision-making processes are key to addressing community needs effectively.

DEPUTY GOVERNOR LUCY MULILI HOSTS KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS FOR MAARIFA CENTER SUCCESS STORIES.

On Tuesday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili warmly welcomed officials from the Council of Governors’ Knowledge Management team. The visit is part of an initiative to document and showcase success stories from the county, which will be featured in the COG’s Maarifa Center.

This collaborative effort aims to highlight the county’s achievements and best practices, contributing to a broader knowledge-sharing platform that benefits all counties. The Maarifa Center serves as a repository of innovative solutions and success stories, promoting effective governance and development across the nation.

Mulili expressed her enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and learning from each other’s experiences to drive progress and improvement in governance.

She expressed her commitment to the initiative, pledging to champion efforts to centralize knowledge management within Makueni. This will ensure that the county continues to share and benefit from collective wisdom and achievements.

The visiting team, led by Winnie Kithome, Makueni’s Knowledge Management Champion to the Council of Governors, will be in the county for four days.

MAKUENI GOVERNOR, MUTULA KILONZO JNR HOSTS YOUTHS FROM NAIROBI AT THE MAKUENI TECH AND INNOVATION HUB.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr says the youth need to acquire digital skills in the fast changing world of the digital economy.

Speaking at the Makueni Tech and Innovation Hub in Wote when he met 40 youths from Nairobi undergoing training under the Kenya Creative Industries Programme, Governor Mutula said such training fosters entreprenuership and is a pathway to sustainable livelihoods. The youth are on a bencmarking tour in Makueni County. The programme is sponsored by an international NGO, Finn Church Aid (FCA). The group also visited Ajiry Centre.

FCA believes that visiting the two facilities will greatly benefit participants by offering insights into the innovation and technology sectors.

FCA is a Finnish International Aid Organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations in fragile and disaster-affected areas.

FCA Kenya is coordinating the digital skills training designed to nurture and develop talent in various creative fields. The program offers a 5-month training and mentorship in animation and motion design, graphic design and digital illustration, web design and development and digital marketing.

At the two facilities in Makueni County, the learners were exposed to real-world projects, (3D printing, music production, photography and videography) workflows and processes through presentations and tours and networking opportunities by Makueni ICT teams.

MAKUENI HOSTS WATER DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS TO REVIEW PROGRESS AND SET FUTURE GOALS.

By the year 2027, the Makueni County Government will have invested Shs 4.8 billion in water sector development with the target of achieving 70 percent universal water supply for its over 1 million residents. This investment aims to reduce the distance to the nearest water point from the current 4 km to 2 km.

This announcement was made by County Executive Committee Member for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation John Kieti during a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) multi-stakeholder forum on Monday, to review the water situation in Makueni.

Presided over by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr in Wote, the forum aimed to identify progress, gaps, and commitments of different partners towards water development, ensuring the implementation of a unified water agenda by all partners.

A bulk of the funding, to be mobilized by both the county government and partners, will go towards water infrastructure development, treatment, distribution, and enhancing proper governance to ensure the sustainable supply of quality water for all.

Since 2022, the county government has increased water coverage from 26,000 cubic meters to 30,000 cubic meters daily. The WASH forum has been tasked with drawing up a water master plan to bridge the gap to meet the 60,000 cubic meters demand per day as per the County Integrated Development Plan (2023-2027).

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR ON FRIDAY COMMISSIONED TWO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION (ECDE) CENTERS AT KATILAMUNI AND KYAANI PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Friday commissioned two Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers at Katilamuni and Kyaani Primary Schools during his development tour of the Kikumbulyu North Ward in Kibwezi West sub-county.

This initiative, part of a broader program by the Department of Education, aims to provide quality learning facilities for pre-primary children in Makueni.

GOVERNOR MUTULA UNVEILS MAJOR WATER PROJECTS IN KIKUMBULYU NORTH.

During a working tour of Kikumbulyu North Ward on Friday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and his Deputy Lucy Mulili unveiled a series of water development projects aimed at ensuring safe and adequate water supply across Makueni County for domestic, irrigation, and industrial use.

At Kiaoni area, they commissioned rehabilitation of the Makaani-Kiaoni water pipeline, which will serve 4,800 people within Kiaoni clusters. The project includes rehabilitation of Kiaoni water kiosk, elevating the tank tower, and installing a 10m³ water tank on a 1.2-meter-high plinth. The pipeline will be extended by 4.4 kilometers.

In Athi, Governor Mutula commissioned phase 2 of Athi-Tunguni water project, which will benefit over 100,000 people in Kikumbulyu North, Makindu, and Nguumo wards. The scope of the work includes composite filtration, electromechanical systems for the treatment plant, distribution networks for Makindu, Kikumbulyu North, and Nguumo, as well as construction of four water kiosks.

At Kathyaka, Governor Mutula inaugurated Kathyaka Masonry Water Tank, which will provide water to more than 6,000 residents from the Ngulu and Nyayo clusters.

KeNHA AND MAKUENI COUNTY RAMPS UP ROAD SAFETY EFFORTS

In a bid to enhance road safety and curb illegal roadside activities, the State Department of Roads, through KeNHA held a consultative meeting with the County Government of Makueni at Kusyombunguo Hotel. The meeting prompted by the National Security Committee following the tragic Londiani accident on June 30, 2023 which claimed 52 lives focused on moderlities of addressing market encroachments onto road reserves and ensuring adherence to road safety regulations in Makueni County.

Led by KeNHA Lower Eastern Regional Director Eng. J. Kariuki and also attended by the County Commissioner, the meeting resolved to the formation of a multi-sectoral committee that will include representatives from the National and County Governments, KeNHA, KURA, business stakeholders, traders, and the public. The multi-Sectoral committee will strategize on public awareness and implementation of the national road safety directive that provides a remedy to increased road accidents along major roads. The solution involves clearing encroached road reserves, designating land for markets and addressing illegal roadside parking, dumping and trading activities.

The County Government was prominently represented by CECMs Eng. Sebastian Kyoni (Infrastructure), Dr. Sonia Nzilani (Trade), Eng. John Kieti (Water and Sanitation), and Mr. Nicholas Nzioka (Lands).

This collaborative exercise highlights KeNHA’s commitment to creating safe, orderly and business-friendly environment.