News

SENATORS PRAISE MAKUENI WATER REFORMS

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Tuesday appeared before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee, where he outlined reforms aimed at improving water management and reducing non-revenue water in the county.

The governor said the county has embraced automation of water systems, smart metering and smart kiosks, alongside rehabilitation of water networks to curb physical and commercial losses.

He told the committee that over Sh300 million has been spent on water projects through partnerships, helping expand access in the water-scarce county.

Governor Mutula also urged the national government to review the use of underground water resources originating from Makueni, noting that the water currently serves Mombasa City while Makueni residents continue to face inadequate water supply. He added that most borehole water in the county is saline and unfit for human consumption.

Chairing the committee, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipsang William Kipkemoi commended the county government for prudent management of count investments especially water resources.

Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo called for the fast-tracking of the stalled Thwake Dam, saying it remains key to addressing Makueni’s water challenges.

SENATORS HAIL MAKUENI FOR PRUDENT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has earned praise from Senators for his county’s sound and transparent financial management and investment.

The Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds Tuesday commended Makueni County for its exemplary stewardship of public finances, particular special funds and investments.

Appearing before the committee, the Governor outlined measures his administration has implemented to maintain a record of zero non-performing loans.

Senators reviewed and discussed all matters presented before the committee, describing Makueni’s financial policies and management practices as progressive and accountable.

Governor Kilonzo said the recognition and commendation inspires the county government to continue managing public resources responsibly for the benefit of residents.

Committee Chair Godfrey Osotsi, who also serves as the Senator for Vihiga County, said Makueni County stands out as a model of effective funds governance for other devolved units.

SENATE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE PRAISES MAKUENI’S REVENUE AUTOMATION AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT

The Senate County Public Accounts Committee has lauded Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr for the automation of all county revenue streams which has enabled the county to collect Kshs.1 Billion in own source revenue for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna who chairs the committee termed the innovative financial solutions as key in achieving clean audits and value for money for Makueni residents.

The committee also commended the mechanisms put in place to handle pending bills including legal fees, and requested the governor to share the same with the Council of Governors for replication in other counties.

The Governor met with the Senate Committee on Tuesday morning to consider the Reports of the Auditor-General on the Financial Statements of the County Executive of Makueni for Financial Years 2020/2021 and 2021/2022. A bulk of the recommendations and queries by the Auditor General in the year under review have been implemented and resolved.

SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE COMMENDS MAKUENI FOR IMPROVED HEALTH SERVICES

The Senate Health Committee has lauded Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for the quality of services at the Mother and Child Hospital, noting that Makueni County has placed strong emphasis on service delivery.

The committee, led by Senator Tabitha Mutinda, visited the county on Thursday to assess the performance and oversight of healthcare operations.

During the visit, the team raised a few areas of concern, which Governor Mutula and his health leadership pledged to address.

SENATE ENERGY COMMITTEE ESCALATES PUSH FOR KPC COMPENSATION OF THANGE OIL SPILL VICTIMS

Thange: May 02, 2025

The Senate Energy Committee, led by Chairperson Oburu Oginga, held a public hearing in Thange Ward on Friday to assess the long-term impacts of a 2015 Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) oil spill at Thange river basin.

The visit follows persistent demands by residents, through MCA Eric Katumo, for fair compensation over lost livelihoods and health risks linked to petroleum-contaminated water and crops.

A taskfroce appointed by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. to assess the long-term Health, Environment and Social Impact of the spill has confirmed alarming levels of cancer-causing benzene in soil and water samples from the affected area—10 years after the spill.

The Senate Committee has vowed to push KPC to conduct comprehensive health and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and ensure adequate compensation for victims.

The fact-finding forum, hosted by Governor Mutula, included key stakeholders such as: NEMA, Ministry of Health, KPC officials, Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo, and area MCAs.

Residents expressed frustration over delayed justice, citing failed promises and prolonged exposure to pollution. The Committee assured urgent action, emphasizing corporate accountability and community restitution.

SENATE COMMITTEE LAUDS GOVERNOR MUTULA FOR LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND DIVERSITY IN COUNTY EMPLOYMENT.

August 16, 2024

The Senate’s National Cohesion, Equal Opportunity, and Regional Integration Committee has praised Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. for his compliance with legal requirements in human resource management and his commitment to promoting equal employment opportunities in the county.

Governor Kilonzo Jr. reported that the county’s workforce consists of 61% female and 39% male employees, with 27% of the workforce under 35 years of age. This distribution demonstrates the county’s dedication to fostering diversity, inclusivity, and empowering the youth.

Hon. Mohammed Chute Said, the committee chair, praised the inclusion of young people into the county’s workforce as a key step toward securing the county’s future and fulfilling government employment legal mandates.

The committee also commended the County Government for its efforts to empower the youth through initiatives such as agri-preneurship, providing equal opportunities in online procurement, and offering vocational training programs.

Governor Kilonzo Jr. presented this information during his meeting with the Senate Committee on Friday. He was accompanied by the County Secretary Dr. Justin Kyambi, CECM Finance Damaris Kavoi, and County Public Service Board Chairperson Dr. Nicodemus Muteti.

SENATE COMMITTEE COMMENDS MAKUENI’S SMART USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee on Friday afternoon to respond to the Auditor-General’s report for the 2023/24 financial year.

The meeting was held to ensure all concerns raised in the report are addressed and public funds are properly accounted for.

Governor Mutula assured the committee that his administration is committed to clearing pending bills amounting to Ksh. 151 million. He also revealed that Makueni has made impressive progress in raising its own revenue — growing from Ksh. 849 million to over a billion shillings.

Officers from the Auditor-General’s office, who were present, noted that the county has shown improved financial discipline.

The governor further shared his administration’s focus on putting more resources into value chain development — a move he believes will boost social and economic empowerment for local residents.

The Senate committee led by Vice Chair and Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma, praised Makueni as a success story of devolution.

Senators Okog’o Omogeni (Nyamira) and Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi) echoed the praise, applauding Governor Mutula for development initiatives that bring real change to people’s lives.

Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo highlighted Makueni’s model of public participation in budgeting, saying it promotes community ownership of projects. Senators also got a look at Makueni’s online project monitoring system, which allows residents to track government projects in real-time.

Further, governor Mutula urged the Senate committee to anchor the Council of Governors in law, emphasizing that formalizing its status would enhance its effectiveness as a key devolution liaison body; sentiments that were supported by Senator Omogeni.

The session was also attended by Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya Mo’Fire and Makueni’s counterpart Daniel Maanzo with CECMs Damaris Kavoi (Finance), Joyce Mutua (Agriculture), Eng. John Kieti (Water), and MCAs Jonathan Kimongo (Mavindini) and Cosmas Mutunga (Emali/Mulala).

SENATE COMMITTEE COMMENDS MAKUENI FOR PROGRESS IN OPERATIONALIZING MUNICIPALITIES.

The Senate Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations has commended Makueni County for making significant strides in operationalising municipalities, noting that many other devolved units were still at the early stages of implementing the framework.

The committee, chaired by Wajir Senator Abbas Mohamed, made the remarks when Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. appeared before it to shed light on the progress the county has made in actualising the functions of municipalities.

Governor Mutula informed the committee that Makueni had operationalised three municipalities and allocated funds to support their operations and development.

He also appealed to the Senate to explore legislative mechanisms for ensuring sustainable funding and resourcing of municipalities, noting that adequate resources were critical to enabling them to effectively discharge their functions.

SENATE COMMITTEE APPLAUDS MAKUENI COUNTY’S EDUCATION SECTOR PROGRESS.

The Senate Education Committee has commended Makueni County for its notable strides in implementing Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Vocational Training Centre (VTC) programs.

Led by Committee Chair Senator Betty Montet, the delegation visited the county on Friday to assess the progress in education infrastructure and service delivery. Speaking when they paid a courtesy call on Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., the committee praised Makueni for operationalizing 61 VTCs and building 384 well-equipped ECD classrooms since 2014. These efforts have positively impacted over 39,000 learners, who now enjoy improved learning environments compared to the previously dilapidated facilities — a sentiment echoed by Senator Daniel Maanzo.

Governor Mutula welcomed the Senate’s audit and emphasized the need for the national government to provide conditional grants to bolster county education systems, citing limited resources and competing priorities.

Other officials present included Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Senate Committee Vice Chair Prof. Margaret Kamar, and Senators Nderitu Kinyua (Laikipia), James Murango (Kirinyaga), and Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta), alongside CECM for Education Japheth Mang’oka and CECM Finance, Damaris Kavoi.

SEKEB GOVERNORS PUSH FOR INCREASED COUNTY FUNDING.

On Thursday, the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc Summit held an Extraordinary meeting attended by commissioners from the Commission for Revenue Allocation (CRA) on consultation of the fourth basis of revenue sharing.

During the meeting, the three governors Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni), Julius Malombe (Kitui), and Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) urged that county allocations be adjusted upwards. This will enable the devolved units ably address the myriad of challenges affecting wananchi.

“…The CRA must acknowledge that funds must follow functions, and that the revenue sharing formula must take into consideration the additional risks and pressure on the healthcare that the Bloc faces owing to accidents occurring along the transnational Nairobi-Mombasa Highway…”, read a press statement in part.

The governors resolved to lobby Members of the National Assembly and Senators from the SEKEB Bloc to for a unity of purpose to defend Devolution and champion the SEKEB position when the CRA revenue sharing formula is tabled in Parliament.