News
WOTE MUNICIPALITY EYES RECORD-BREAKING REVENUE, TAPS LESSONS FROM THIKA’S BILLION-SHILLING MODEL
Wote Municipality is setting its sights higher this financial Year, determined to go past revenue records and write a new chapter of growth.
The municipality has rolled out bold strategies, including peer-to-peer learning from Kenya’s top-performing municipalities, tightening revenue stream tracking, and recruiting more street parking attendants to boost collections including enforcement team.
In the 2022/23 financial year, Wote set a revenue target of Sh100 million but managed only Sh83 million. The following year, 2023/24, the municipality not only met its Sh120 million target but exceeded it, pulling in Sh123 million.
In 2024/25, the bar was raised to Sh130 million, and once again the municipality outdid itself, collecting Sh141 million.
For the current financial year, Wote has set its sights on Sh150 million. According to the Municipality Manager, Evelyn Mutua, the team is not just aiming to hit the target,they plan to surpass it.
In this spirit, a team of revenue, enforcement, sanitation and environment officers from Wote visited Thika Municipality for a peer-to-peer learning program on revenue collection and modern waste management.
Thika Municipal Manager, Gathii Kanyi, revealed that his municipality raked in Sh1.3 billion last year and is now chasing an even more ambitious Sh1.8 billion this year.
The Wote team was introduced to the Fukuoka Method of solid waste management, a semi-aerobic landfill technology first piloted in Africa by Kiambu County in 2016.
The Fukuoka system uses fermentation heat and natural thermal convection to introduce air into landfills, accelerating aerobic decomposition and drastically cutting harmful methane emissions.
Wote Municipality is also eyeing the establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to tackle waste segregation, recycling, and resource recovery.
According to Mutua, the project is in line with Governor Mutula Kilonzo’s vision of sustainable waste management, a critical step as the municipality’s population is projected to swell from the current 161,996 to 186,900 by 2030.
Wote Municipality Eyes Massive Investments From SUED Partnership
Wote Municipality is poised for major investment attractions thanks to a partnership with United Kingdom’s sponsored Sustainable Urban Economic Development Programme (SUED).
The Municipality is among 12 others in the country selected through competitive bidding to take part in the 6-year initiative.
The programme entails supporting the 12 municipalities to develop bankable urban investments, improving urban economic planning and business environment reforms through public-private partnerships.
On Friday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Wote Municipality Board members held a sequel briefing meeting with SUED implementation team and representatives of the British High Commission at the Council of Governors offices, Nairobi, to finalize the development plan for Wote Municipality.
Agro-processing, trade and investments, fruit processing, waste management among others are some of the partnership areas of interest identified.
On 7th September 2022, Governor Kilonzo Jnr signed the transfer of several functions and attendant resources from county departments to the municipality giving it the required impetus for enhanced growth.
WOTE MUNICIPALITY BOARD MEMBERS SWORN INTO OFFICE
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Tuesday Witnessed swearing-in of the Wote Municipality Board members after they were vetted and approved by the County Assembly.
Mutula has tasked the board to move with speed and implement the functions he signed off for transfer to the municipality to enhance service delivery.
Some of the priorities the board will be tasked to address include waste management, water provision, drainage and sewer system for Wote town, Solar lighting of the markets within the municipality, roads maintenance and upgrading of urban centres, especially Wote town to instill investor confidence.
The members sworn into office are:
1. Benjamin Masungwa
2. Everlyn Mulewa Kimuli
3. Romeo Ndeveni
4. Benjamin Wambua Mutua
5. Daniel Kisyang’a
6. Paul Maundu Mutua
A 7th member, Angela Kiamba, who is out of the country will be sworn at a later date.
WOTE, KMTC CAMPUS
On Friday, the County’s Culture, Music, and Arts Directorate in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) hosted the annual college’s Cultural Day at Wote Campus.
Talented medical students showcased their creativity through various cultural performances including a beauty pageant and creative wear.
The Wote Campus KMTC drama team along with other institutions and groups has been actively participating in the annual Kenya Music Cultural Festival, representing Makueni County with sponsorship from the Department of Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture, and Tourism.
This cultural day is a build-up for participation in the 97th KMCF edition in December 2024 notwithstanding celebration of the diverse cultural tapestry that enriches the institution, highlighting the integral role of cultural activities in fostering community spirit and unity of the school.
Wote, 30th August 2023-Makueni’s indigenous knowledge patented for profits
World Prematurity Day commemoration in Wote, Friday.
National Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and First Lady Makueni – Anita Mutula launch the reviewed Kangaroo Mother Care Implementation Guidelines during the World Prematurity Day commemoration in Wote, Friday.
Makueni has trained 25 healthcare workers who offer Kangaroo Mother Care for pre-term babies in six health facilities. This has ensured 99.4 percent survival of all premature births recorded in the facilities.
World Environment Day 2017
The World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. On June 5th the nations of the world came together in making the day. Worldwide, it was held in Canada and Egerton took the privilege of hosting the event countrywide as the other Counties do it.
“Connecting people to nature” the theme of World Environment Day 2017, implores us to get outdoors and in to nature, to appreciate its beauty and its importance, and to forward the call to protect the earth that we share.
Assistant Director Environment- Joseph Munyao explaining 2017’s theme
‘Without a healthy environment we cannot end poverty or build prosperity. We all have a role to play in protecting our only homes: we can use less plastic, drive less, waste less food and teach each other to care’ secretary-general, Antonio Guterres.
Just like philosopher Antonio said in the above statement, Makueni County used the UN Environment-led global event to showcase to the people the beauty of its natural environment on land and water and how to conserve.
County Warden addressing the crowd on importance of conservation
Mtito Andei been the host town, the department of Water, Irrigation and Environment (W.I.E) in Makueni County, partnered with Kenya Wildlife Service, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Serena Hotel, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), and primary school pupils joined hands to clean up the outskirts Mtito Andei town.
Stakeholders, partners and pupils cleaning the outskirts of Mtito Andei
To celebrate World Environment Day 2017, Kenya Wildlife Service offered free entrance to Tsavo West to those who participated in making the World Environment Day successful in Makueni County
WORD BREASTFEEDING WEEK
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually during the first week of August. The theme for 2024 is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
This year’s campaign will honor breastfeeding mothers in all their diversity, recognizing their unique journeys and highlighting the vital role families, communities, and health workers play in supporting them.
In Makueni, we celebrate every breastfeeding mother and advocate for equal access to breastfeeding support for all, recognizing the pivotal role fathers play in supporting women in this endeavor.
WOMEN URGED TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP FOR INFANT TEETHING PROBLEMS
Women in reproductive age have been encouraged to seek medical assistance when their infants face teething challenges instead of resorting to harmful traditional practices.
Speaking on Wednesday in Wote during a meeting with over 150 women from Maendeleo ya Wanawake across the county, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili expressed concern over infant deaths caused by traditional gum cutting.
She urged mothers to prioritize modern medical interventions to safeguard their children’s health.
Mulili also emphasized the importance of regular breast and cervical cancer screenings, which are ongoing at the sub-county hospitals.
Additionally, she called on women suffering from fistula to attend screenings at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote for specialized care and treatment.
In her remarks, County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa provided a detailed presentation on the legal aspects of land succession, inheritance, and property management, empowering women to navigate these issues effectively.
Other topics covered during the meeting included combating gender-based violence and accessing the Makueni County Empowerment Fund.
The event was also attended by Finance Executive Committee Member Damaris Kavoi.
