News

𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has concluded a development tour of Mavindini Ward, highlighting progress in water provision and agricultural empowerment while addressing residents’ concerns over the Thwake Dam project.

Mutula said the Athi-Mavindini Water Project is now supplying water to Mavindini Market, improving access to water for residents and businesses.

He urged farmers to join cooperatives and take advantage of county agricultural programmes to access loans, strengthen their enterprises and increase their incomes.

Residents raised concerns over the assessment and compensation of families affected by the construction of Thwake Dam.

Mutula said he had taken up the matter with the National Land Commission and would push for proper assessment and rightful compensation of those affected.

The governor said his administration would continue implementing projects aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding economic opportunities in Mavindini Ward.

𝐌𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤, 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐢 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫.

𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 -Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has announced plans to construct a new hospital block and staff quarters at Kithuki Health Centre in a major investment aimed at improving healthcare services and supporting 24-hour operations.

Kilonzo also directed the connection of water to the facility and ordered the provision of maternity and laboratory equipment, while pledging to ensure the Londokwe Dam project is completed before the onset of the rains.

He further announced 72 bicycles for Community Health Promoters to ease transport challenges and support their work.

The governor is touring Kitise-Kithuki Ward to meet residents, inspect ongoing projects and commission completed ones.

He is accompanied by County officials, county assembly clerk Kevin Mutuku, and several MCAs.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐖𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 -Makueni is set to get a major boost in vaccine storage and distribution with the construction of a regional cold store at the Makueni County Referral Hospital in Wote.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr inspected the facility, which has a storage capacity of 30 cubic metres and will be able to hold between four million and six million doses of vaccines.

The walk-in cold room is designed to maintain vaccines at the required temperature of between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius, helping preserve their potency and ensure uninterrupted immunisation services across the county.

The facility will supply vaccines to the county’s six sub-counties and 285 immunising facilities, including public, private and faith-based health facilities.

Makueni is hosting the pioneer project, which will also be used as a training centre for biomedical engineers and other health personnel from across the country.

The initiative is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) With Makueni being among 16 counties benefiting from the initiative aimed at improving access to immunisation services.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐏𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞.

𝐖𝐨𝐭𝐞, 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫—Makueni County is moving to give military veterans a greater role in local development, with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. signalling plans for closer cooperation with the influential group, while supporting their welfare.

Speaking at the inaugural Makueni Military Veterans Annual General Meeting, Mutula said the county was preparing a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise cooperation with veterans, potentially expanding their role in county programmes and public affairs, noting their untapped skills.

The meeting addressed healthcare, family welfare, insurance, financial discipline, economic empowerment and drug abuse, highlighting issues affecting veterans and their families.

Military Veterans Association Director Brigadier (Rtd) Moses Reriari urged the county to recognise veterans as a resource in public development, citing their skills and expertise in engineering, plant operations, health and environmental conservation, among other disciplines.

Mutula said veterans would support health, Disaster Management, agriculture, Environmental conservation and water programmes while benefiting from economic empowerment and value-chain opportunities, positioning the partnership as part of the county’s broader development agenda.

The county also plans to document veterans’ history and contributions, a move aimed at preserving Makueni’s military heritage while giving the group a more visible place in the county’s public life.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬.

𝐖𝐎𝐓𝐄, 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 – Makueni County is stepping up efforts to strengthen the mango value chain by bringing farmers, cooperatives, exporters, processors, offtakers and regulators together to tackle persistent market and production challenges.

The stakeholder forum was organised by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA) and brought together representatives of 22 mango farmer cooperatives across the county, exporters, local offtakers, processors, KEPHIS, HCD and officers from the Departments of Agriculture, Trade and Devolution.

The discussions focused on traceability, quality standards, cooperative capacity, market linkages and the role of mango marketing agents, with stakeholders seeking practical solutions to improve the competitiveness of Makueni mangoes.

Addressing the forum, County Secretary Dr. Justin Kyambi emphasised that quality must remain at the heart of the mango business. He urged cooperatives to strengthen farmer records, better understand their membership and mobilise more farmers into organised groups to enhance traceability and collective marketing.

The stakeholders agreed that cooperatives should assess their capacity to aggregate and transport mangoes directly from farms, while maintaining continuous engagement with exporters and offtakers. Contract farming was also identified as a key pathway towards creating more predictable markets and reducing uncertainty for farmers.

Dr. Kyambi noted that the County Government is pursuing new opportunities to expand mango markets, including a recent delegation to Oman to explore potential export markets.

Agriculture Chief Officer Kinns Mwania urged farmers and cooperatives to make full use of available pack houses while ensuring that mangoes meet required quality and handling standards.

The forum marked a renewed push for stronger collaboration across the mango value chain, with stakeholders committing to ensure that Makueni mangoes reach markets in the right quality, quantity and condition; and at better returns for farmers.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐔𝐩 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝐖𝐎𝐓𝐄, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 5, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — Makueni County has stepped up efforts to strengthen animal health, agroecological practices and disease surveillance through a two-day One Health Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Workshop that brought together veterinary professionals and Animal Health Service Providers.

The training, organised by the County Veterinary Directorate in partnership with Inades Formation Kenya, was held under the theme “One Health in Practice: Strengthening Agroecological Systems and Animal Health for Sustainable Development.”

The workshop provided for a platform to Sub-County Veterinary Officers and private animal health practitioners to enhance their skills in disease detection, prevention and reporting, responsible antimicrobial use, animal welfare and agroecological approaches.

Opening the training on Thursday, Agriculture Chief Officer Julius Mwania reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening disease surveillance and coordination among Veterinary, Public Health, Environment and Water departments.

Speaking on the second day of the training, Inades Formation Kenya Chief Executive Officer Joseph Munywoki asked encouraged participants to embrace a practical One Health approach, recognising the close link between healthy animals, healthy people and a healthy environment.

The training concluded on Friday with resolutions aimed at strengthening collaboration between public and private animal health practitioners and improving disease surveillance and sustainable livestock production across Makueni.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬’ 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞.

𝑊𝑂𝑇𝐸, 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 22𝑛𝑑, 2026 – With micro and small enterprises emerging as a key engine of livelihoods and local economic growth, Makueni County is investing in equipping traders with the knowledge needed to grow and sustain their businesses.

The Department of Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism, in collaboration with the Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA), on Tuesday brought together traders for a practical business training facilitated by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).

The training focused on access to finance, business formalisation, bookkeeping and taxation; key pillars for running profitable and compliant enterprises.

Attending the forum, CECM Irene Makau Mwilu challenged traders to go beyond producing quality goods by embracing strategic marketing, building strong brands and creating markets for their products.

The training is part of a wider county initiative to empower traders with skills, resources and knowledge for sustainable business growth, with participants receiving certificates of participation.

The session was also attended by Chief Officer Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani, Director Harrison Kiandiko, the County MSEA Representative and the Lower Eastern ICPAK Representatives.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐊𝐒𝐡𝟏𝟔𝟎𝐌 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬

Over 900 community groups in Makueni County are set to benefit from interest-free loans as the county prepares for the full rollout of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF).

The rollout follows a successful pilot programme in which KSh 2.05 million was disbursed to 44 groups, all of which successfully repaid the loans within the agreed timelines. Building on this performance, the County Government has allocated KSh 160 million for the full programme, targeting 30 groups in each ward.

On Wednesday, County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, chaired a review meeting with MCEF focal persons, during which the go-ahead for the full rollout was given.

The expanded programme will combine access to affordable financing with capacity building. Beneficiary groups will undergo training, while Ward Development Officers will be equipped with tablets to support digital processing, monitoring and follow-up of the loans.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬.

𝐖𝐨𝐭𝐞, 𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔- The County Government of Makueni is seeking new market opportunities for farmers engaged in organic mango production, with efforts underway to link them to markets in the United States.

County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, Japheth Mang’oka, said the County is engaging the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) to map farmers already practising organic farming and establish a structured system that brings farmers, processors and offtakers together.

The discussions also aim to encourage more farmers to transition from conventional to organic mango production while ensuring compliance with the required organic management standards and certification requirements.

EPZA, led by General Manager for Operations and Investor Support Alice Atogo, has identified Freeze Dry as a potential offtaker. The company is willing to support farmers in meeting the requirements for organic certification, opening the way for Makueni’s organic mangoes to access higher-value export markets.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐢, 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐭

Nairobi | 10th November 2026 -Makueni County Government officials on Tuesday engaged Safaricom to review and strengthen the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) digital platform following a successful pilot phase that ran from June to October 2026 and benefited 41 community groups.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review lessons and challenges from the pilot, with Safaricom’s technical team presenting updates on improvements to the fund’s digital platform.

Key areas of focus included document uploads, network stability, repayment functionality, dashboard accuracy, SMS reminders, loan portfolio management, ward-based reporting and monitoring of group performance.

Leading the Makueni delegation, CECM for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Eng. Sebastian Kyoni said the county targets to reach 900 community groups across all 30 wards, with 30 groups per Ward benefiting from the interest-free financing programme. Each group will access an initial KSh50,000, with the borrowing limit progressively growing to KSh500,000.

The engagement seeks to address outstanding technical and operational gaps ahead of the countywide rollout, ensuring efficient fund management, accountability and easier access for beneficiary groups.

The initiative reinforces Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s commitment to economically empower women and youth, promoting entrepreneurship and strengthening household livelihoods. Kyoni was accompanied by Chief Officer for Gender, Children and Social Services Catherine Katuti, among other county officials.