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Shina Foundation to the rescue of vulnerable groups

County first lady Nazi Kivutha, through her Shina Foundation, has reached out to vulnerable groups along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway with a donation of cash and other items as a cushion against covid-19 distress.

The donation targets 207 beneficiaries organized in nine groups, and who are former commercial sex workers, drug addicts/peddlers based in Mtito Andei, Kibwezi, Emali, Makindu, Sultan Hamud, Salama, Malili, Kambu and Machinery towns.

Each of the nine groups received Sh 20,000 cash as seed capital for income generating activities while each individual will receive 5 litres of hand washing soap and a hand washing jerrican.

Nazi also donated 3,605 masks where each household member of the 207 beneficiaries will receive a pack of five face masks.

“We chose groups along the highway because of their vulnerability. Shina Foundation and our partners, among them Centre for Health Solutions and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, felt many young people were at extremely high risk of Covid-19 infection owing to their care-free life associated with substances abuse and commercial sex work,” said Nazi when she presented the donation to the County Coronavirus Emergency Response Committee at the county administration offices Monday.

Governor Kivutha Kibwana who received the donation, lauded Shina foundation terming the outfit a major player in the county development especially in resource mobilization for family planning, health development and mentorship.

SH74 MILLION NUNGUNI MODERN MARKET PROJECT BEGINS

Nunguni, 19th February 2026 -Construction of the Sh74 million Nunguni Modern Market has officially begun following a site handover ceremony held on Thursday and presided over by Makueni County Chief Officer for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Jossylyn Mutua.

The project, funded under the 2025/2026 Financial Year at a cost of more than Sh74 million, is scheduled for completion within one year.

The new facility will provide modern, secure and well-organized trading spaces aimed at improving the working environment for traders in Nunguni.

Speaking during the handover, Dr. Mutua described the development as a key investment by the county government in strengthening local commerce and supporting small-scale entrepreneurs.

Once complete, the market is expected to improve sanitation, streamline business operations and enhance revenue collection, positioning Nunguni as a growing commercial centre.

SH4.5 MILLION SOLAR-POWERED HIGH MAST TO ILLUMINATE UTANGWA MARKET.

In a major boost to rural electrification, the Government of Makueni County in collaboration with the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), has launched a Sh4.5 million solar-powered high mast lighting project at Utangwa Market in Kithungo/Kitundu Ward.

The county government and REREC officially handed over the project site to the contractor on Monday, marking the start of the installation. The modern solar-powered lighting system is expected to enhance night-time visibility, improve security, and stimulate business activity in and around the market.

Speaking during the handover, county officials noted that the project aligns with ongoing efforts to promote renewable energy and drive economic growth in rural areas.

Once completed, the high mast system is expected to transform Utangwa Market into a safer and more vibrant commercial hub, extending business hours and boosting local trade.

A similar Sh4.5 million project was also launched at Kasikeu, Sultan Hamud, to illuminate the Masumba area.

The solar projects are expected to save the government millions of shillings in electricity costs.

SH4.5 MILLION SOLAR-POWERED HIGH MAST TO ILLUMINATE MASUMBA MARKET

In efforts to improve rural infrastructure and promote renewable energy, the Government of Makueni County, in partnership with the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), has launched a Sh4.5 million solar-powered high mast lighting project at Masumba Market in Kasikeu Ward.

The official handover of the project site to the contractor took place on Monday, signaling the commencement of installation works.

The solar-powered lighting system is expected to enhance night-time visibility, improve security, and stimulate business activity in and around Masumba Market.

The initiative is part of Makueni’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions and rural economic transformation. Once operational, the high mast lighting system will enable traders to extend their working hours and create a safer, more vibrant marketplace.

The solar-powered system, which harnesses clean and renewable energy, is also expected to reduce electricity costs for the government, saving millions of shillings in the long run.

SH10.26 BILLION PROJECTS DRIVE MAKUENI’S PEOPLE-CENTRED DEVELOPMENT

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday unveiled the County Statistical Abstract 2025 and the County Development Profiles, two key government documents designed to measure progress, track service delivery and anchor decision-making on reliable, up-to-date data.

Speaking during the launch, the Governor reported strong growth in own-source revenue, which rose from Sh891 million in the 2022/23 financial year to Sh1.29 billion in the last financial year, an increase of nearly 45 per cent. He attributed the growth to improved technology, efficiency and public trust.

Over the same period, the county consistently allocated more than Sh3.2 billion annually to development expenditure, ensuring resources were translated into services and infrastructure that directly improve livelihoods.

According to the County Development Profile, 1,430 projects valued at approximately Sh10.26 billion were implemented across all wards and sub-counties.

In the water sector, the county increased water storage by 900,000 cubic metres through flagship earth dams, benefiting more than 225,000 residents and 45,000 households. This investment reduced the average distance to water sources from five kilometres to four kilometres and raised household access to potable water to 44.6 per cent.

The Governor further noted that through partnerships, his administration mobilized over Sh592 million, including climate financing under the FLLoCA programme.

During the review period, the county opened 2,327 kilometres of new roads and maintained 5,160 kilometres, expanded rural electrification to more than 2,100 households, and installed solar systems in health facilities and public institutions.

The Governor was accompanied by his deputy Lucy Mulili, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Senior Manager for National Statistical Systems John Bore, County Assembly Speaker, several MCAs, Finance CECM Damaris Kavoi, and other county government officials.

SH 171M CLIMATE RESILIENCE INVESTMENTS LINED UP IN 13 WARDS

13 Wards in Makueni are poised to benefit from climate resilience investment projects geared towards mitigating climate change risks and shocks in ecologically vulnerable areas.

The projects funded by World Bank through Financing Locally-led Climate Action Programme under National Treasury are expected to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities to climate change threats such as droughts and flash floods.

On Tuesday (30th April, 2024), a delegation of technical teams from the National Treasury Projects Implementation Unit and County Climate Change unit visited Ilima and Mukaa Wards for public participation fora on the environmental, social and economic suitability of suggested projects. 

In Ilima Ward, a sand dam at Kyangati across Wautu River will be constructed. 250 households will benefit from this project. Besides accessing water for domestic use, the households will be supported to grow 5,000 avocado trees to increase their incomes.

In Mukaa Ward, Kwa Kakui earth dam at Maiani is set for expansion and the water treated for community use. 

Leading the field visits were Environment and Climate Change Chief Officer Geoffrey Ngovi and Makueni FLLoCA Coordinator Jackline Kamusa.

SH 13 MILLION FLLoCA PROJECT TO TRANSFORM AGRICULTURE IN MBITINI WARD

Mbitini Ward is poised for a major agricultural transformation following the launch of the Muuoni–Mbitini Water Distribution for Agriculture and Livelihood Restoration Project.

The KSh 13 million project, funded by the Government of Makueni County through the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme, will harness water abstracted from the Muuoni River through the construction of a 100,000-litre underground sump and a gravity-fed distribution system to support irrigation at Kavuthu area.

The project is expected to benefit residents of Wenzi, Kwa Ngundo, and Maiden villages, which have long experienced acute water shortages, especially during prolonged dry spells. By providing reliable irrigation water, the initiative will boost horticultural production while promoting banana and avocado cultivation as part of efforts to restore degraded land and diversify household livelihoods.

To enhance the value chain, the project will also capitalize on the ward’s existing cold storage facility by training farmers in post-harvest handling, value addition, and market linkages, helping to reduce post-harvest losses, improve produce quality, and increase household incomes.

SEVEN MAKUENI SCHOOLS COMPETE AT 2026 KSSSA NATIONAL GAMES.

Seven schools from Makueni County are representing the county at the 2026 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Games in Thika, Kiambu County.

More than 7,200 students from junior and senior schools across the country are participating in the championships, which were officially opened at M-PESA Foundation Academy.

Flagging team Makueni,Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services CECM Eng. Sebastian Kyoni said the county government supported its Team by providing sports kits for players and technical officials, and deploying sports officers to offer technical and logistical support.

The county is represented by Tumaini Secondary School (boys’ football), Misuuni Secondary School (girls’ football), Matiliku Boys Secondary School (boys’ volleyball and boys’ 3×3 basketball), Nduluni Secondary School (girls’ 3×3 basketball), Kitondo School (boys’ rugby 7s), and Moi Kibwezi School (girls’ netball).

The games were officially opened by Principal Secretary for Basic Education John L. Ololtuaa.

Sensitization programme on usage of Soko Makueni, Marketing E-portal.

Sensitization programme on usage of Soko Makueni, Marketing E-portal. The officers in attendance were drawn from the Department of Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism; Directorate of Livestock and Cooperative Development and the Directorate of ICT.

The Department of Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism in a view to enhance market linkages through adoption of technology, has created a versatile platform that offers opportunity to the increasingly young populace of traders and buyers, to trade and market their products. The developed E-marketing solution dubbed ‘Soko Makueni’, will also ensure that investors get to know of the investment opportunities available within Makueni County, offer an opportunity for traders to compare market prices from different markets and give them a chance to advertise their products and produce.