News

STRENGTHENING FARM RESILIENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development on Wednesday met key development partners AGRA-Sustainably Growing Africa Food Systems, FIPS Africa, and the East African Grain Council—to align priorities ahead of the rollout of a major agricultural resilience programme.

The engagement focused on deepening collaboration, harmonising implementation strategies, and advancing farmer-centred solutions. The meeting was held as the County prepares to launch REGAIN, a three-year initiative set to benefit at least 65,000 smallholder farmers and 103 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Makueni County.

Implemented with support from AGRA, FIPS Africa and the Eastern African Grain Council, REGAIN seeks to boost incomes and strengthen resilience among agricultural producers through practical food loss reduction solutions. The programme will promote modern post-harvest handling technologies, improved storage systems and structured market linkages to reduce losses, enhance food security and raise profitability along the value chain.

County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture and Livestock, Elizabeth Muli, reaffirmed Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. commitment to work closely with development partners to ensure the project’s success and long-term sustainability.

She noted that strengthening agribusiness networks and addressing post-harvest losses would significantly improve farmer earnings and build resilience in the sector.

AGRA Country Acting Director, Dr Davies Muthini said strong partnerships and practical loss-reduction solutions are critical to transforming food systems and unlocking higher productivity and income growth for farmers.

The event was also attended by Ag. Agriculture Chief Officer Felistus Mutune, FIPS Africa Peter Githiri, EAGC’s Executive Director Gerald Masila among other officers.

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.

STRAIGHT SETS, NO MERCY!

Makueni men’s volleyball team thrashed Meru 3–0 on Day 4 of the Kenya Youth Inter-County Sports Association Games, storming into the semi-finals. Congratulations to our boys!

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.

STAKEHOLDERS SHAPE NAVCDP 2026/2027 BUDGET PRIORITIES IN MAKUENI

National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) stakeholder participation forum to deliberate on the FY 2026/2027 and Medium-Term Budget plans.

The meeting aimed to collect views, recommendations, and priorities from various partners and community representatives to ensure the budget reflects the real needs of Makueni residents.

While addressing the forum, CECM for Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperative Development, Elizabeth Muli, emphasized the importance of teamwork and accountability in implementing agricultural projects that empower farmers and strengthen cooperatives across the county.

Ms. Muli reminded participants that the budgeting process should focus on delivering tangible benefits to the people and improving livelihoods.

The engagement, guided by the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, underscored public participation as a key pillar in ensuring inclusivity and transparency in resource allocation.

Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyallo also attended the forum, commending stakeholders for their active involvement in shaping Makueni’s agricultural development agenda.

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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South Eastern Kenya leaders meet for Economic Bloc Policy Formulation

Ukambani top leadership on Friday converged in Kitui town for a consultative forum to put final touches to the operationalization of the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB).

The forum also provided room for public participation by the Bloc’s stakeholders on a national policy for establishment of County Economic Blocs drafted by the Ministry of Devolution and ASAL.

The event was graced by Cabinet Secretary for devolution Eugene Wamalwa, governor Charity Ngilu, Machakos deputy governor Francis Maliti and Makueni County Secretary Paul Wasanga who represented governor Kivutha Kibwana.

According to SEKEB acting chair Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, the regional economic bloc will have a three-tier administration structure that will steer it to success.

The three tiers will include:

SUMMIT

This will be the apex body which will offer leadership on policy and high level decisions.

The summit will comprise the three governors and senators, each county assembly speakers, majority and minority leaders, MPs, County Secretaries, representatives of the Business Community, Religious leaders, Civil society, Youth, Women, and PWDs.

COUNTY SEKEB FORUMS

Each County is to establish a county forum for deliberating and engagement with the summit as appropriate.

The County Forum will consist of the Governor, senator, all county MPs, MCAs, CECs finance and Trade, representatives of Business, Professionals, Religious, Youth, PWDs, Women, Speaker, and the civil society.

THE SECRETARIAT

This will be the body mandated to carry out administrative duties, mobilization of resources execution of SEKEB Programs and projects as well as Communication.

The Secretariat will report to the summit.

According to Ndambuki, the thematic areas to be pursued by SEKEB include but not limited to: Water resources development, Agriculture and food security, Technology and ICT development, Health Services, Trade and Entrepreneur Development, Manufacturing, Industrialization, Mining/Extractives, Financial Sector Development, Infrastructure development, Urban Planning, Youth and Women empowerment, Tourism and cultural development.

Governor Kivutha Kibwana will be the Secretariat’s legal advisor, while Timothy Ndambuki will head it.