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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT BEGINS IN MAKUENI

June 3, 2024

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development has commenced community entry meetings to create awareness of the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) and begin the Participatory Integrated Community Development (PICD) process.

Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua launched the PICD process at Mukuku market in Kako Waia Ward. Similar meetings are taking place across the county and will continue in 4 zones in every ward until June 11, 2024, paving the way for the PICD process.

The purpose of the PICD is to ensure community members participate in identifying issues and problems in target agricultural value chains and generate solutions, including development plans.

The process will culminate in an implementation plan for NAVCDP. NAVCDP is a five-year initiative building on the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) productivity and resilience enhancement efforts that have laid the foundation for market-oriented, commercialized farming.

The project focuses on smallholder farmers either “in transition” or who have “transitioned” from subsistence to commercial farming. The overall goal is to increase market participation and enhance value addition for smallholder farmers.

AS KENYA MARKS 61 YEARS OF SELF RULE, MAKUENI IS MAKING STRIDES TO FURTHER DEVOLVE RESOURCES AND GOVERNANCE.

As Kenya marks 61 years of self rule, Makueni is making strides to further devolve resources and governance so that wananchi can fully harness the fruits of devolution. As part of this decentralization, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Saturday commissioned the Kilome Sub-county adminstration office where residents will access all devolved services under one roof.

The Governor will also be able to work from this office to adress development matters of the Sub-county.

MADARAKA DAY CELEBRATION: TAKING STOCK ROADS

In the current financial year, we have graded 772 kilometers of roads, opened and widened 286km of new roads and gravelled 79km. We have also rolled out roads for water (green roads) initiative focusing on harnessing road runoff water for agricultural purposes ~ Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

Water has always remained our priority. Immediately we assumed office, we launched massive programs towards the provision of water through construction of dams, drilling and equiping of boreholes and water distribution to connect water to communities in the Last Mile water development project known as “Kunyaiikua Kiw’u Nduani na Misyini”

Besides the flagship projects, we have constructed smaller dams with a combined capacity of 550,000 cubic meters, laid 208 kilometers of pipeline for distribution and drilled and equiped 47 boreholes~ Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr

In the Financial Year 2024/2025, we have allocated Kshs 1 Million in each ward to support land succession targeting 20 households in each sub-ward. The program will support the vulnerable and poor households in accessing title deeds targeting over 10,000 title deeds ~ Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr

Early this year, my government confirmed 497 ECDE teachers into permanent and pensionable terms in phase one of the exercise. We have budgeted for phase 2 where the remaining teachers will be confirmed ~Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr #KenyaAt61

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.

GOVERNOR MUTULA RECEIVES KSH 15M NEONATAL ICU EQUIPMENT FROM ENI KENYA.

On Friday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr received a donation of advanced neonatal Intensive Care Unit equipment valued at Sh15 million from Eni Kenya for the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote.

The donation includes neonatal incubators, baby cots, suction machines, infusion pumps, LED phototherapy units, a drug resuscitation trolley, digital hygrometers, vital sign monitors, and defibrillators, among other essential equipment.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr emphasized that this milestone is set to significantly impact neonatal care by increasing survival rates and improving referral processes, ultimately reducing infant mortality rates.

Additionally, the governor signed a cooperation agreement with Eni Kenya Managing Director Enrico Tavolini to provide specialized blood storage equipment at the Referral Hospital, facility equipping & refurbishments, improvements in water & sanitation, hygiene accessibility and a grassroots awareness campaign to promote healthy behaviors at the household level.

MAKUENI COUNTY HAS PARTNERED WITH KCEP-CRAL( KENYA CEREAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME- CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL LIVELIHOOD)

Makueni County has partnered with KCEP-CRAL( Kenya Cereal Enhancement Programme- Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihood) to rehabilitate Chief Kiamba earthdam in Kasikeu ward in an endeavor to bring water closer to the people.

County Executive Committee Member for Water and Sanitation John Kieti on Thursday presented the contractor to the Project Management Committee and also handed structuctural designs and Bill of Quantities to the PMC for oversight.

Kieti said the county government has embarked on a massive water development agenda targeting to increase Makueni’s water supply from the current 30,000 cubic meters to meet the current demand of 60,000 cubic meters per day.

The Dam is expected to benefit over 600 households.

MAKUENI KICKS OFF PLANS TO ESTABLISH TOURISM ASSOCIATION

Makueni’s tourism directorate has set the ball rolling towards establishment of a Tourism Association to unite stakeholders and market the county as a top tourists destination. It will be modeled after the Kenya Coast Tourism Association.

During a stakeholder sensitization forum on Thursday, an interim committee was put in place to oversee the registration process and recruit more members.

The forum was led by Dr. Josselyn Nzilani, Chief Officer of Trade, Industry, Marketing, Culture, and Tourism, and attended by representatives from the Kenya Tourism Board, Tourism Regulatory Authority, and other industry players.

MAKUENI HANDS OVER SITES FOR ESP MARKETS

Makueni County has handed over three sites for construction of ultra-modern markets under the Multi-million Economic Stimulus Program (ESP), a partnership between the national government and county governments.

The sites handed over on Wednesday to contractors procured by the State Department for Housing and Urban Development are Makindu ( Kibwezi West) and Kikima (Mbooni). Kasikeu site in Kilome was handed over on Tuesday by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili.

The Ksh 50M each markets are meant to spur rural economic growth by promoting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

Each market will accomodate 200 traders. Some of their essential componets are lactating rooms, cold storage rooms, SACCO offices, an ICT hub, ATM booths, a social hall, and a kitchen.

PRESIDENT RUTO TO LAUNCH THE AGRIPRENEUR MODEL 

May 30, 2024

A group of 126 agripreneurs from Makueni have kicked off 2-day induction training at Kibabii University in Bungoma, in preparation for their official deployment by President William Ruto during the upcoming Madaraka Day Celebrations.

The agripreneurs were competitively selected from 20 wards implementing the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) in Makueni County. They are part of a broader cohort of 6,600 agripreneurs drawn from 33 counties participating in the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

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.