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REHABILITATION OF KWA KAKUI EARTH DAM TRANSFORMS LIVELIHOODS IN MUKAA WARD

Residents of Mukaa Ward in Kilome Sub-county are witnessing a remarkable transformation following the rehabilitation and expansion of Kwa Kakui Earth Dam under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.

The once silted and unreliable water source has been desilted and expanded by 8,000 cubic meters, with the spillway reinforced through stone pitching to enhance its durability. A solar-powered water treatment system, comprising a flocculation unit, sedimentation tanks, filtration, and chlorination, has been installed to ensure safe water for household use.

One of the key beneficiaries is Maiani Girls Secondary School, where students now enjoy reliable access to clean water for sanitation, drinking, and learning—significantly improving school hygiene and academic performance.

This project stands as a shining example of how Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr leadership is steering Makueni County toward climate resilience through smart, community-driven water investments

Regenerative Agriculture for improved food security

With the adverse effects of climate change, especially in Ukambani, many farmers are glaring at looming food insecurity.
 
However, this is not the case for 180 farmers drawn from various wards in Makueni County, who have adopted Regenerative Agriculture (RA), through , ‘ Strengthening Regenerative Agriculture in Kenya’, an ongoing program that is being spearheaded by the County Government of Makueni through the department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock Fisheries and Cooperative Development in partnership with  Alliance for Green Revolution Africa  (AGRA) and Cereal Growers Association ( CGA).
Regenerative Agriculture is a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health with attention also paid to water management, fertilizer use, and more.
The 180 farmers who are also the Village Based Advisors( VBA)have been capacity built through training, peer to peer activities and farm demonstrations on RA principles.
Some of the principles include conservation tillage, minimum soil disturbance, rotation and crop covers, and diversity.
 
The VBAs are in turn cascading the RA knowledge to other farmers at the village levels, with an aim of enhancing food security at household levels.
 
The program is targeting to reach out to 30, 000 farmers directly through the VBA extension model.

REFORMED GUM CUTTER LEADS FIGHT AGAINST OUTDATED PRACTICE IN KIBWEZI.

For two decades, Leah Kitheka, now 63, carried out the painful traditional practice of gum cutting on children in her Sub Location of Mbui Nzau. With roughly 150 children subjected to the harmful procedure under her hands, Leah once believed she was offering help. Today, she is on a mission to right the wrong.

Driven by awareness and remorse, Leah now moves from home to home, urging mothers to seek medical care for teething issues instead of resorting to unsafe traditional methods.

Leah is among several reformed gum cutters empowered by the Makueni County Government to become champions of child health and protect future generations from the trauma she once inflicted.

On Thursday, Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili led a powerful forum at Kibwezi Sub-County Hospital, bringing together over 500 young women including pregnant mothers, community health promoters, and former gum cutters for a sensitization session aimed at ending gum cutting for good.

Mulili also announced plans to introduce a county policy that will outlaw the brutal practice ,often carried out using sharp objects like nails, razor blades, and bicycle spokes, and promote safer healthcare interventions for infants.

To support the reformed cutters in their new journey, Mulili presented them with 100 one-week-old chicks and poultry feed for two months ,a small but meaningful step toward helping them build alternative livelihoods and continue being voices of transformation in their villages.

READY TO DRINK KALAMBA JUICE LAUNCHED

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Sunday officially launched the ready-to-drink Kalamba fruit juice during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Matiliku, Makueni Sub-County.

Governor Kilonzo announced that the County will continue to sell mango puree locally and for export, while the remaining produce will be processed into ready-to-drink juice.

Agriculture County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Joyce Mutua disclosed that the Kalamba production line has been linked to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) stamp duty system, and the final product has received full certification from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

She said the County has implemented a quality assurance program to ensure consistent product quality. Additionally, a distribution point for the juice has been established at Green Park, Wote, with plans to stock it in supermarkets and various points of sale soon.

Mutua further noted that the County has identified value-chain champions in every Ward to support mango farmers by facilitating the off-take of their produce at designated aggregation centres.

To regulate the mango trade, all mango buyers in Makueni will now be required to obtain a movement permit, in addition to paying cess, to ensure fair distribution of trade across all areas.

RAW TALENT ON DISPLAY AT MKJ SUPA CUP

The MKJ Supa Cup Sub-county finals concluded on Sunday with amazing raw talents in football, volleybal and basketball on display.

The tournament, Makueni’s biggest sporting competition, now moves to the final stage–the County Finals, slated for 29th-30th March, 2025 in Wote.

Over Kshs 2M in cash prizes are up for grabs at the finals.

Makueni County FY 2022-23 Q2 Budget Implementation Report

The Budget implementation report highlights progress made in implementation of the Makueni County Government for half year of the Financial Year 2022/23, ending 31st December 2022.It also presents the key challenges that faced budget implementation during the reporting period and appropriate recommendations to overcome these challenges.

The County Government Revised Budget (1) for FY 2022/23 is Kshs 11,529,598,474.31 with Kshs 7,678,723,994.74 (67%) directed towards recurrent budget and 3,850,874,479.57 (33%) directed towards development budget.

 

The overall revenue performance for half year of FY 2022/23 ending 31st December 2022 was 23.04 percent. (Kshs 2,358,803,704.82).The equitable share and Conditional allocations loans and grants amounted to Kshs 2,044,940,889.80 representing 87 percent of the total actual receipts for the half year of the financial year.  Own Source Revenue performed at 25 percent, for the first six months of the financial year.

 

The County recorded an overall cumulative absorption rate of 25 percent (Kshs 2,938,257,833.87) for the period ending 31st December 2022. Personnel emoluments recorded the highest abosption at 45 per cent (Kshs 1,996,294,414.35) whereas operations and maintenance recorded a 20 percent absorption rate (Kshs 661,981,907.52). Development expenditure amounted to (Kshs 279,981,512.00) representing 7 percent absorption rate

The County Government made exchequer requisition amounting to Kshs. 2,788,626,649.00 during the period.  Kshs. 399,938,590 was for County Assembly while   Ksh.s 2,388,688,059 was for County Executive.

The County Government development projects for implementation in FY 2022/23 are 1,218 in number. As at 31st December 2022, 3 percent of the projects were competed and in use, 21 percent completed to scope, 10 percent ongoing, 65 percent not started and 1 percent stalled.