News

GOVERNOR MUTULA COMMISSIONS BOREHOLE IN WOTE

August 20, 2024

The Kenya Red Cross Society is set to launch a new partnership with the County Government of Makueni for a comprehensive project designed to improve the living standards of local residents. The initiative will address critical areas including health, water, sanitation (WASH) and food security.

The announcement was made by Dr. Ahmed Idris, Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society during a briefing with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. when he paid a courtesy call on him at his Wote office on Tuesday.

Dr. Idris observed that, despite a long-standing collaboration with the Makueni County Government, there are still critical gaps that need addressing. He noted that it has been long since the Red Cross undertook a major project in Makueni and expressed a strong commitment to reverse the trend.

Dr. Idris also pointed out concerns about the inadequate trauma care in local hospitals and offered to assist the County Government in building the capacity of medical personnel to better manage trauma cases.

Governor Kilonzo welcomed this proposal, emphasizing its timeliness, particularly in light of the frequent road accidents on the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway that have significantly impacted Makueni.

Later on, Governor Kilonzo, alongside Dr. Idris, commissioned a borehole rehabilitated by the County Government at the Red Cross offices in Wote. The borehole, which has a capacity of 3,000 litres per hour, will provide a reliable source of clean water for the Red Cross premises and nearby government offices, enhancing water accessibility for the local community.

The event was also attended by Devolution CECM, Japheth Mang’oka and Water Chief Officer, Eng. Julius Makau.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CHAMPIONS SOCIAL INCLUSION IN MAKUENI’S DEVELOPMENT

As part of his vision for inclusive development in Makueni, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has placed social inclusion at the forefront of his administration’s priorities.

To ensure no one is left behind, the county government has prioritized mainstreaming persons living with disabilities into its overall development agenda. As part of this commitment, over 840 residents with disabilities have received state-of-the-art wheelchairs in the 2024/2025 Financial Year to enhance their mobility and independence.

440 of these wheelchairs were procured through the ward-based budget. In a complementary effort, the county partnered with Hope Mobility Kenya to provide an additional 400 wheelchairs, distributed in November 2024, reaching even more beneficiaries.

On Thursday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and Executive Committee Member in-charge of Gender Eng. Sebastian Kyoni issued wheel chairs for Nguu/Masumba and Ivingoni/Nzambani wards on the sidelines of an Ujuzi Teke Teke tools issuance exercise.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CHAIRS STAKEHOLDERS MEETING TO PLAN NGAI NDETHYA SETTLEMENT

Makueni County, in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has initiated plans to draw a Land Management Plan for Ngai Ndethya Game Reserve, geared towards excising 13,000 hectares for human settlement and conservancies.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Tuesday chaired a consultative forum in his office, which was attended by KWS Wildlife and Community Service Director Prof. Charles Musyoki, several conservancy leaders, and executive committee members among other stakeholders.

The forum aimed to set the stage for the development of a Land Use and Management Plan for the 21,000-hectare Ngai Ndethya Game Reserve. This plan would allow the county government to excise 13,000 hectares off the protected area and pave way for issuance of title deeds.

To spearhead the process, a multi-sectoral team has been established and tasked with drafting the management plan within six months.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CALLS FOR UNIFIED APPROACH TO NAVCDP IMPLEMENTATION IN MAKUENI

May 17, 2024

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has directed the Department of Agriculture and Livestock to embrace a unified governmental approach in implementing the National Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) for sustainable development in Makueni.

Governor Mutula said adopting a cohesive approach would facilitate integration and bolster capacity, thus ensuring that the project’s intended impact is effectively felt by grassroots citizens.

NAVCDP, a five-year initiative, aims to boost market participation and value addition within the mango, dairy, poultry, tomato, and apiculture value chains across all 30 wards in the county.

The County Assembly has also undergone sensitization sessions to ensure smooth implementation. These forums serve as a precursor for the project’s introduction into the communities scheduled for next week.

The governor spoke on Friday during the Cabinet sensitization meeting on NAVCDP, organized by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the County Project Coordination Unit.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CALLS FOR SUPPORT OF ARTS AND SPORTS PATHWAY

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has urged parents to support their children placed in the arts and sports pathway following the recent learner placement exercise by the Ministry of Education.

The governor said he had noted concerns from some parents who were dissatisfied with their children being placed in talent-based pathways in KJSEA under the Competency-Based Curriculum.

Speaking during the annual Kithungo/Kitundu sports Festival at Kitundu Sports Grounds, Governor Mutula emphasized that not all learners are suited for the STEM pathway, adding that sports and the arts offer viable and rewarding career opportunities.

“Many people have excelled through sports. Parents should allow children to pursue what they are good at,” he said.

The festival featured football, basketball, badminton, and athletics, transforming Kitundu into a vibrant arena of competition and talent showcase.

Organizers said the tournament aims to nurture young athletes, identify raw talent, and bring youth together through sport, using athletics as a platform to shape future careers beyond the classroom.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CALLS FOR RURAL WATER REFORMS AFTER RECEIVING GOVERNANCE SURVEY

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has called for urgent reforms in rural water management after a new survey revealed widespread inefficiencies in Makueni County’s rural water schemes.

The survey, conducted by Emali Dedicated Children’s Agency (EDCA) and presented to the governor on Wednesday, assessed the effectiveness of rural water governance structures in ensuring reliable water supply. The survey, which began in November 2024, found that despite strong stakeholder engagement, 90% of rural water projects are poorly managed, leading to frequent failures and denying communities access to safe water—with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Key findings indicate that mismanagement stems from lack of financial and technical expertise among local water committees.

To address these challenges, the report recommends:

Amending the Makueni Water Policy (2019) to formally institutionalize rural water governance; Automating water points and digitizing billing systems to reduce corruption; and introducing ATM-based payments to improve revenue collection and accountability.

Governor Mutula described effective water governance as the cornerstone of sustainable development, emphasizing the need for research-backed policies and partnerships with organizations like EDCA.

GOVERNOR MUTULA CALLS FOR PEACE AS BISHOP SIMON PETER KAMOMOE INSTALLED TO LEAD WOTE DIOCESE

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Saturday joined thousands of Catholic faithful at Unoa Grounds in Wote for the installation of Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wote, in a ceremony led by Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Archdiocese of Nairobi.

The installation marked a significant milestone for the Diocese of Wote, drawing clergy, political leaders and worshippers from across the region.

Addressing the congregation, Governor Mutula congratulated Bishop Kamomoe on his appointment and wished him success in his new pastoral mission.

The governor also called on the Catholic Church to continue praying for the country as Kenya heads toward the next General Election, emphasizing the need for national unity and peaceful coexistence.

He urged political leaders to work together and consistently preach peace to their supporters, saying harmony would be critical in the period leading up to the polls.

In his remarks, Mutula further told the congregation that the Makueni community had sent Wiper Party leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka to seek national leadership, describing him as a “fisher of men” in reference to the upcoming elections.

Also speaking during the ceremony, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, appealed to young people to remain law-abiding and resist being manipulated into violence.

He urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used as goons, but instead to uphold the rule of law and contribute positively to society.

In his maiden address as Bishop of Wote, Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe pledged to faithfully advance the Gospel, saying he would dedicate his ministry to proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, and serving the faithful entrusted to his care.

Governor Mutula calls for greater participation of youth in entrepreneurship

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Monday graced the Makueni youth dialogue and mentorship event that brought together 15 youths per ward from all over the county.

The governor used the forum to urge for youth participation in economic affairs through entrepreneurship.

He said the government was keen in creating a conducive environment that will unlock the potential for the County’s youth, to enable them to fully participate in development.

The County had also engaged different sector leads and youths who have excelled in various business ventures to speak during the forum.

GOVERNOR MUTULA BRIEFS SENATE COMMITTEE ON COUNTY’S PLANS TO IMPROVE HOSPITAL SERVICES

Makueni County has rolled out a pilot online system to track expired or unused medical commodities to streamline pharmaceutical procurement.

Speaking when he appeared before the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds on Thursday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr outlined measures taken by the County to enhance transparency, efficiency and patient care quality.

Governor Mutula informed senators that Makueni health facilities handle nearly 2 million patients annually, highlighting the need for improved service systems and increased healthcare funding.

Accompanied by his deputy H.E DG-Makueni Lucy Mulili , Mutula further said his administration was in the process of finalizing the drafting of a County Waiver Bill to legally structure the waiving of hospital bills for vulnerable residents.

Senators Peris Tobiko (Kajiado) and George Mbungua (Special Elect) commended Makueni County for adopting cashless transactions, a move aimed at improving accountability in health service payments.

Also present during the session chaired by

Migori Senator, Eddy Oketch were Senators Allan Chesang (Trans-Nzoia), Issa Boy Juma Chemelá (Kwale), Daniel Maanzo (Makueni), and Special Elect Senators, Beth Syengo, Agnes Kavindu, and Hamida Ali Kibwana.

GOVERNOR MUTULA BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTICS IN MAKUENI COUNTY OFFICES AND FUNCTIONS

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has declared a ban on single-use plastics in all county offices and official functions in a move to combat plastic pollution.

The announcement was made during World Environment Day celebrations in Wote, on Thursday, where the World sought to draw strategies to end plastic pollution.

“Enough is enough! We must act now before plastics choke the life out of us,” declared Governor Mutula. Plastic waste, a major pollutant, has become an eyesore, clogging drainage systems and harming the environment.

Wote Municipality, for example, generates 20 metric tons of waste daily, with plastics accounting for 25% of the total waste. To tackle this challenge in the long-term, the county government has unveiled plans to construct a Sh180 million Material Recovery Facility. The facility will enhance waste segregation, recycling, and reuse, while also creating employment opportunities for youth.

In addition, Governor Mutula launched the County Forest Landscape Restoration Plan, developed in partnership with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). The plan will guide the implementation of nature-based solutions to restore degraded landscapes in Makueni.