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SECURING MAKUENI’S FUTURE THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS FOR A RESILIENT ECONOMY

Makueni is staging its third Development Partners Conference 2025, a strategic move aimed at rallying local and external actors around an integrated agenda that links donor support, private investment and knowledge to the county’s evolving development priorities.

Objectives of the conference include:

a) To reflect on the partnership journey in the implementation of the County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027;

b) To strengthen donor coordination and promote integrated programming to ensure resources are pooled, leveraged for the realization of equity, inclusion and social justice;

c) To identify, co-create and catalyze bankable, community-driven projects, leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to bridge existing funding gaps and scale up transformative initiatives.

SECOND ANNUAL MAKUENI TOURISM CIRCUIT CONCLUDES AT TSAVO

Today marked the conclusion of the second annual Makueni County tourism circuit that kicked off on Tuesday at Alem Hotel in Mbooni sub-county spanning four days. Led by the CECM for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism Dr. Sonia Nzilani, the circuit brought together hoteliers, tour operators and cultural enthusiasts from across the county to explore various attractions and facilities aiming to position Makueni as a premier tourism destination.

The circuit’s goal was to promote interconnected tourism by linking various attractions, activities and services within the county. This initiative provided tourism operators with the opportunity to explore multiple locations, supporting sustainable tourism practices. Dr. Sonia highlighted the program as a key marketing strategy to showcase Makueni’s beautiful landscapes and facilities, boosting the county’s tourism appeal.

Accompanied by Chief Officer Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani, participants visited numerous facilities including Alem Hotel, Tawa Country Lodge, The Base Hotel and Kyeni Kya Kitoo pottery cottage in Mbooni. The team also toured Kusyombunguo Hotels, Paraiso, Kilimani Fort in Wote, Jambo Afrika, Kijiji, Emali Handicraft, Hunters Lodge, Kambua and Patton Homes in Kibwezi West.

Speaking at the Akamba Cultural Center, the Chief Officer emphasized the department’s commitment to preserving the Kamba culture as a tourist attraction contributing to economic growth. 

The circuit also included a nature trail in Kivale Forest and a visit to Chyullu National Park where participants enjoyed stunning views of the landscape. 

In the final leg of the tour, the team visited Tsavo West National Park exploring the famous volcanic Shetani lava and Chaimu hills and experienced the magical Mzima Springs. They were also treated to an ethnological tale of the Angulya People; a native Kamba sub-ethnic tribe indigenous to Chyullu Hills and Tsavo Park.

The Makueni Tourism Circuit aims to market the county as a prime tourist destination and provide a detailed route for travelers, enhancing Makueni’s visibility on the tourism map.

Saving Lives Through Technology.

Proximie Global health leadership led by Dr. Shannon Shibata-Germanos, Head of Global Health Proximie, and the Safaricom team were on Thursday hosted by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and the Makueni health team.
Proximie Global Health together with Jhpiego has partnered with the county government in providing healthcare services by integrating Proximie technology using live video feeds into Jhpiego’s evidence-based obstetric safe surgery (OSS) programme for greater mentorship and training.
According to Dr. Shibata-Germanos, Videos that surgical teams choose to record using the software are housed in the secure online Proximie library for future viewing.
This network has been used to connect 5 hospitals: Mother and Child, Makindu, Sultan Hamud, Mbooni, and Kibwezi hospitals in leveraging the software to enhance quality improvement and mentorship within the successful JHPIEGO led safe obstetric surgical training program.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr noted that the technology will improve the obstetric surgical care for women in the county and will as well support his commitment to provide all women with dignity in childbirth and reduce maternal and newborn deaths and obstetric-related complications. Proximie and Safaricom are now exploring partnerships with the county to look towards the further scale of the programme across the whole county through enhanced connectivity towards UHC goals.

SAME-DAY BIRTH CERTIFICATE ISSUANCE MARKS MILESTONE AT KIBWEZI HUDUMA MASHINANI OUTREACH

The Huduma Mashinani outreach programme on Friday recorded a significant milestone in Kibwezi Town, where 1,425 residents were served, with many leaving the venue with their birth certificates issued the same day. The exercise also attracted a large number of young people seeking national IDs and voter registration services, highlighting growing youth participation in civic processes.

The same-day processing of birth certificates marked the first for the Huduma Mashinani programme, made possible through the dedication of the Kibwezi Office of Births and Deaths, which ensured efficient service delivery throughout the day. Residents expressed satisfaction with the convenience of accessing multiple government services under one roof.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, reaffirmed the County Government’s commitment to taking Huduma Mashinani services to every ward to ensure no resident is left behind.