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SUCCESSFUL SURGERIES BRING RELIEF TO WOMEN SUFFERING FROM FISTULA IN MAKUENI.

Successful Surgeries Bring Relief to Women Suffering from Fistula in Makueni

At least 11 women suffering from fistula-related complications breathed a sigh of relief following successful surgeries yesterday at the Mother and Child Hospital. Additional surgeries are planned for today.

Dr. Doris Mbithi, the fistula surgeon in Makueni, stated that the hospital has admitted 50 women awaiting surgery. So far, they have screened at least 148 women and are encouraging more to come forward for screening.

The county government has partnered with Jhpiego to address and reduce the prevalence of fistula among Makueni residents. The Department of Health is also offering free fistula screenings from May 17, 2024, to May 24, 2024.

Makueni is set to host the National and International Day of Ending Fistula on May 23, 2024.

DELIVERING THE PROMISE MATTERS ECDE.

Today at AIC Kathonzweni Comprehensive School Over 700 ECDE Learners and 91 ECDE teachers participated in the County Kenya Music Festivals.

The Government of Makueni County is fully committed to delivering on the 3 Pillars of ECDE education.

1. Growth and Development of our Learners. Nurturing Talents and provision of ECDE Learning Materials

2. ⁠Human Resources- Converting our ECDE teachers to PNP

3. ⁠ECDE Infrastructure- Ensuring the ECDE Class is the best delivered as per National Government Pre- Primary standards and guidelines.

STROKE SURVIVOR URGES HEALTHY LIVING AS MAKUENI MARKS WORLD HYPERTENSION DAY

At 67, Josaya Mawa knows the high cost of poor lifestyle choices.

A survivor of both diabetes and hypertension since 2009, Mawa lost his right leg to a stroke,a painful consequence he blames on years of heavy drinking and unhealthy eating.

Speaking on Monday at Itumbule Health Center during World Hypertension Day, Muema passionately urged members of the public to adopt healthier lifestyles, warning that neglecting one’s health can have devastating consequences.

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, who led locals,leaders and partners in commemorating the day, announced that the county government has significantly increased funding for the procurement of life-saving drugs to ensure a steady supply of antihypertensive medication in Level 2 and 3 health facilities.

As part of strengthening primary healthcare, the county has also equipped Community Health Promoters with blood pressure monitors to conduct regular household screenings, supporting timely referrals, and following up on patients to ensure proper management.

County Health Executive Dr. Paul Musila revealed that the health department is in the process of digitizing records for hypertension patients across public facilities. The move aims to improve drug management and prevent stockouts.

Dr. Musila also noted that the county will ramp up medical outreaches targeting non-communicable diseases to enhance early detection and treatment.

Strides into the creation of the Konza buffer zone

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, CECMs Sonia Nzilani (lands), Elizebeth Muli (ICT & Education) on Monday joined John Kipchumba Tanui, MBS. Principal Secretary – State Department of ICT and Digital Economy, Joseph Ole Lenku (Governor Kajiado), Francis Mwangangi Kilonzo (DG Machakos), John Paul Okwiri, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Konza Technopolis Development Authority(KoTDA) among other leaders during discussions on the creation of Konza Technopolis buffer zone to provide a good environment for investments.

The meeting set the following resolutions for the planning of the buffer zone

I. Republish the moratorium as the previous one has expired- This is to remind the stakeholders of the intended planning exercise

II. Enhance stakeholder engagement/ Public participation to understand the interest and rights of the Communities-Political leaders to be part of the agenda to support continued engagement with the members of the public

III. Identify quick wins to be shared with the public- This includes the beneficial effect of the exercise on the 73000 acres area of influence

IV. The moratorium is on- Need to appreciate the approved plan in 2013 which is still valid- Need to create a joint technical committee to start working at the Technopolis for the buffer zone area as a one-stop shop for all development applications

V. Allow now or in the future to develop a periodic schedule of meetings to brief the team/ country leadership on the progress

VI. Road Map- Consider and vote to approve adopt and allow to proceed with the implementation of the roadmap as presented by the chair ICJPLUPC.

Strengthening devolution

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, Deputy Governor H.E Lucy Mulili accompanied by CECM Devolution Japheth Mang’oka, Irene Makau (Chief officer Devolution and Public Participation) and Civic Education Officers today held talks with Africa’s Voices Foundation(AVF) team led by Damaris Ndegwa, Director of Business Operations,

to explore strategic areas of partnership on strengthening citizen participation in decision-making processes.

Strategic Partnerships Review

Makueni County through the Directorate of Strategic Partnerships and Intergovernmental Relations on Wednesday embarked on a 3-day workshop to engage development partners with a view of co-auditing existing collaborations and chat the way forward.

According to Strategic Partnership Director Francis Nthuku, Makueni is a home of numerous and vibrant partners and its development success story cannot be complete without mentioning partnerships.

For instance, he noted, Makueni has been able to implement major flagship projects through collaborations. Some of them include the Wote Public Green Park, the Kalamba Fruit Processing Plant reconstituting line, the Public Participation Model, and the Grain Processing Plant at Makindu.

At the end of the workshop, the partners together with the county departments will identify areas of synergy to create new partnerships and deepen existing working relations to implement more development works to benefit the residents of Makueni.

STIRRING GROWTH: MAKUENI FARMERS REJOIN KENYA’S COFFEE COMEBACK

The dream to revive coffee farming in Makueni is gaining fresh momentum with the new nationwide initiative spearheaded by the Enterprises (MSMEs) Development through cooperative societies.

This move seeks to rejuvenate coffee production in both traditional coffee belts and in emerging regions, which have witnessed a decline in the once-thriving cash crop.

On Wednesday, the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (New KPCU) held a sensitization meeting in Mbooni Subcounty, to engage stakeholders on the revival strategy. The event aimed to create awareness, present program objectives, and share best coffee production practices to guide a new era of innovative, sustainable farming.

The meeting that was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, FCPA Wycliffe Oparanya, emphasized the government’s commitment to revamping the coffee sector.

“The government is fully invested in supporting coffee farmers by providing certified seedlings, improving market access, and restoring the value chain through vibrant cooperative societies,” said Oparanya. “We are not just bringing coffee back—we are making it profitable for every smallholder farmer.”

The Permanent Secretary for Cooperatives Patrick Kiburi Kilemi echoed these sentiments, highlighting sustainable farming as a cornerstone of the strategy.

“This is not about short-term gains,” the PS said. “We are laying the groundwork for long-term, climate-smart farming that guarantees higher yields, quality beans, and better prices.”

Makueni’s County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture and Cooperative Development,

Joyce Mutua, expressed strong support from the county administration, pledging to work hand-in-hand with the national government to empower local farmers.

“Our farmers are ready, and so are we,” said Mutua. “We are committed to this partnership that promises not only to revive coffee farming in Makueni but to transform livelihoods.”

With renewed planning and practical training on best practices such as proper pruning, timely harvesting, disease management and cooperative marketing, Makueni’s coffee sector could soon reclaim its place on the global map.

County staff sign new Performance Contracts as departments compete for glory

All employees of the Government of Makueni County will now work under performance contracts in order to improve service delivery.

The employees, including executive committee members, Chief Officers, directors, and chairpersons of various authorities under the county government signed the performance contracts on Monday, in an event presided over by governor Kivutha Kibwana and his deputy Adelina Mwau.

Those below the director level are expected to sign performance appraisals with their departmental heads before 18th September.

“The deputy governor and myself signed a 4-year performance contract with the people of Makueni County on 23rd March 2018. Our PC was developed in line with the CIDP and it is our expectation that departments have factored our PC in their PCs to ensure what we committed to do is achieved,” said governor Kibwana during the event.

“I want to emphasize that performance management must be entrenched as a culture in the way the Government of Makueni County delivers its services to the citizens (Mwene nthi),” he said.

The keys highlights of the performance contract the governor signed with the people of Makueni include:

WATER

Construction of 4 Mega dams (10 Million M3)
Promotion of household and institutional water harvesting targeting at least 100,000 HHs
Construction and extension of additional 10,000 Km of water pipeline
Entrenchment of climate change mainstreaming and increasing forest cover by 50%

AGRICULTURE

4,880 New hectares put under irrigation and crop production.
Increase milk production from 28M Kg per year to 43M Kg per year
Consolidate the agro-processing initiatives – Kalamba fruit processing, Kikima Dairy processing, Leather tannery and cottage industry and Abattoir with Disease free zone
Halfing the % of Households depending on food aid

HEALTH

Provision of universal health care targeting 150,000 households in Makueni.
Investing in diagnostic infrastructure, technology and equipment to facilitate investigation and screening in all health facilities; enhancing & automating health care and staffing of health facilities.

YOUTH, WOMEN AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES SOCIAL & ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

Establishment of a county scholarship endowment fund
Creation of 100,000 job opportunities for youth directly and indirectly
Enhancing access to market relevant skills/training by the youth, PLWDs and PLHIV to make them more marketable

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING, CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

Improve public service productivity through performance management
Human capital management and development
Development and implementation of structures that support citizen engagement, development of partnerships and resource mobilization

Spring Hill Kwa Kakulu’s Unique Education Approach Sets the Stage for a Vocational Revolution

On Friday, October 27, 2023, Spring Hill Kwa Kakulu in the picturesque Emali Mulala ward of Kibwezi West Sub-county, celebrated a remarkable milestone as 103 learners graduated from the County Technical Training Institute in different disciplines 82 of whom have secured employment already.

The striking success of this CTTI hinges on its unconventional admission criteria, which shatters the barriers of academic prerequisites. Here, the only requirement is a thirst for knowledge and a drive to hone essential life skills.

This approach embodies the belief that anyone with the passion to learn deserves an opportunity.

Spring Hill Kwa Kakulu doesn’t adhere to the standard examination calendar; instead, it sets a unique path. Students are assessed based on their competence and their mastery of the necessary skills, following at least six months of rigorous and hands-on training.

This dynamic approach recognizes that true education goes beyond textbooks and exams; it’s about real-world readiness.

When a student reaches the pinnacle of their career skill development, the institution books their examination via the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) together with other students from different CTTIs since Kwakakulu CTTI is an examination center for both Kenya National Examination Council and NITA.This process ensures that these graduates are not just knowledgeable but are masters of their craft, ready to contribute to the workforce effectively.

The tale of Spring Hill Kwa Kakulu’s 103 graduates is not just a story of personal triumph but a testament to the life-transforming potential of CTTIs. Their unwavering dedication and relentless hard work serve as a beacon of inspiration for the entire community.

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