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AJIRA KWA VIJANA PROGRAM REACHES KIKUMBULYU NORTH

The Ajira kwa Vijana Program was on Wednesday rolled out in Kikumbulyu North Ward, becoming the fourth ward to benefit from the youth empowerment initiative being implemented by the Government of Makueni County.

More than 500 casual workers are benefiting from the Ksh 2 million ward allocation, undertaking activities such as bush clearing, drainage maintenance and environmental improvement works.

The program is set to move to Nguu Masumba Ward on Thursday, making it the fifth ward to benefit from the initiative.

AIDS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH MAKUENI COUNTY TO ESTABLISH COMPREHENSIVE CARE CLINIC

Makueni County has partnered with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to construct a comprehensive care clinic at Makindu Subcounty Hospital. The project, valued at Ksh. 6.8 Million, aims to address the pressing space constraints at the facility, thereby enhancing the quality of care for over 2,000 patients.

The new clinic is expected to create a safer environment for patients while also reducing HIV-related stigma and improving confidentiality in patient care.

During the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Dr. Stephen Ndolo, the Chief Officer for Health Services, emphasized the nature of this initiative, describing it as an important milestone for local residents seeking medical assistance.

The foundations’ CEO Dr. Sam Kinyanjui stated that the clinic is scheduled for completion in January 2025,saying the development underscores their commitment in improving healthcare access and outcomes in the region.

AGRIPRENEURS TAKE OATH AFTER AN INTENSIVE TRAINING

The 210 agripreneurs launched on Thursday have officially taken an oath of service today after completing a two-day intensive training on their field roles.

The training focused on farmer profiling, equipping the agripreneurs with skills to assess farmers’ capacities and identify potential farming areas.

The oath, administered by County Solicitor Ms. Jennifer Kyumwa and witnessed by CECM for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development, Joyce Mutua, signifies a commitment to safeguarding farmers’ data privacy.

“We count on you to be the bridge that uplifts our farmers and transforms agriculture in Makueni,” urged CECM Mutua.

The event was also attended by Livestock and Fisheries Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza, alongside other county officials.

Agriculture Fair attracts hundreds of local farmers to learn best agriculture practices.

Hundreds of local farmers on Thursday flocked to ATC Kwa-kathoka for a Farmers exchange and exhibition, an event that created a platform for farmers to learn on best agriculture practices as well as buy products from various exhibitors.
The agriculture fair brought together exhibitors from 8 counties, private companies, government institutions and local farmers who displayed various agricultural products and technologies.
The theme of the Farmers exhibition is, “Producing safe and nutritious food for a healthy population.”
Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua flagged by her Devolution counterpart Japheth Mang’oka officially opened the 2-day fair.
She urged the local farmers to take advantage of the fair and learn different technologies and methods that they can use to grow food and feed the masses amidst adverse effects of climate change.

AGRICULTURE EXECUTIVE JOYCE MUTUA AND HER TRADE COUNTERPART DR. SONIA NZILANI SHARE MOMENTS WITH MAKUENI AGRIPRENEURS AFTER THEY COMPLETED THEIR INDUCTION TRAINING IN BUNGOMA.

May 31, 2024

Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua and her Trade counterpart Dr. Sonia Nzilani share moments with Makueni agripreneurs after they completed their induction training in Bungoma.

The Makueni team is part of a larger cohort of over 2,500 agripreneurs who will be officially launched by President William Ruto during the Madaraka Day celebrations tomorrow.

For the next 18 months, they will work through NAVCDP to guide farmers on best agricultural practices, pest management, and irrigation techniques. They will also connect farmers with suppliers for quality inputs and link them to markets to secure fair prices.

The agripreneurs will assist farmers in accessing financial services, support loan applications, and connect them with providers of farm and mechanization services.

The agriprenuer model will regularly track progress, provide feedback for improvement, and maintain accurate records to inform decision-making and planning.

AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT HOLDS A STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TO ENHANCE DAIRY DEVELOPMENT

Makueni County has continued to strengthen its dairy sector through the implementation of the Artificial Insemination (AI) Programme, aimed at improving dairy herd genetics, increasing milk production, boosting household incomes, and enhancing food and nutrition security.

The workshop that involved County Veterenary Officers, Dairy Cooperative leaders and Service providers focused on semen quality assurance, supply chain management, breed improvement strategies and data recording and reporting systems.

Speaking during the AI Stakeholders Engagement Workshop, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture Damaris Kavoi said the forum was convened to strengthen coordination among stakeholders and improve the efficiency of AI service delivery across the county.

During the forum, organized dairy groups received grants from the County Government to strengthen their dairy enterprises, enhance productivity, and improve the livelihoods of farming households.

Additionally, participants also reviewed programme performance, shared experiences and lessons learnt, discussed animal health interventions, and evaluated the implementation of the e-Voucher Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme.

The meeting was attended by Chief Officers Felistus Mutune and Japheth Kiminza, together with key stakeholders in the dairy value chain.

A workshop focused on the validation of the Animal Feed Strategy.

Agriculture and Irrigation Chief Officer Daniel Ndolo on Tuesday officially inaugurated a crucial 3-day workshop focused on the validation of the Animal Feed Strategy.
The event, attended by key stakeholders in the agriculture and livestock sectors, marks a significant step towards ensuring sustainable and efficient animal husbandry practices in the county
The workshop, staged at Kusyombunguo is organized by the County  Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the State Department of Livestock and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) aims to validate and refine the Animal Feed Strategy, which is poised to have a substantial impact on the agricultural and livestock industries.
 
In his opening remarks, Ndolo highlighted the importance of optimizing animal feed strategies for the benefit of both farmers and consumers.
 He stated, “Our commitment to modernizing agriculture and ensuring food security begins with the well-being of our livestock. An efficient and sustainable animal feed strategy is the cornerstone of achieving these objectives.Through this workshop, we aim to harness the collective expertise of our key stakeholders to enhance the quality and efficiency of animal feed production.”
Over the course of the 3-day workshop, participants will engage in intensive discussions, presentations, and collaborative sessions to:
 
    Evaluate the existing Animal Feed Strategy and identify areas for improvement.
    Review recent advancements in animal nutrition science and technology.
    Share best practices and success stories from within the industry.
    Develop a roadmap for the implementation and dissemination of the validated Animal Feed Strategy.
 
The workshop has attracted a diverse group of attendees, including farmers, researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, and Non-Governmental Organizations, all of whom play pivotal roles in the Agriculture and livestock industry.

AFTER YEARS OF RECURRING FAILED RAINY SEASONS, MAKUENI HAS ACHIEVED A 60% INCREASE IN ITS AGRICULTURAL YIELD.

Farmers are now celebrating their bumper harvests, thanks to the County Government of Makueni and its Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development.

The department provided high-quality seeds for maize, beans, cowpeas and green grams to 27,000 households in need.

Furthermore, the county established seven fertilizer depots which have significantly reduced the distance farmers used to travel to access fertilizers.

These stores include Kikima and Tawa in Mbooni Sub-County; Mukuyuni in Kaiti Sub-County; Kithumani and Kitise in Makueni Sub-County; Kasikeu in Kilome Sub-County; as well as Kilungu situated within Kaiti Sub-County.

Mutula Kilonzo Jr

AFRICA’S FIRST UNIFIED FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

Under 12 Unified football teams battle it out in the first ever Special Olympics Unified football tournament for girls in Africa. The tournament staged in Wote, Makueni, aims at giving opportunities to intellectually challenged individuals to grow their nascent talents.

The tournament is co-sponsored by the County Government of Makueni and International sports aparel manufacturer NIKE through Special Olympics Kenya

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.