News

MAKUENI LAUNCHES PUBLIC FORUMS FOR 2026/27 DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Makueni County has kicked off a two-day countywide public participation exercise to shape its Annual Development Plan for the 2026/27 financial year.

The forum, Which officially opened on Thursday at Wote Green Park, drew residents who shared their views with a team of officers in finance led by CECM Damaris Kavoi.

In her remarks, Kavoi noted that such strong turnouts reflect a community deeply invested in its own development, a value that Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s administration continues to uphold by prioritizing citizen-driven proposals in policy and project implementation.

Held in line with the Public Finance Management Act, 2012, and Article 220(2) of the Constitution of Kenya, the meetings provide an opportunity for residents to voice their priorities and guide resource allocation.

The exercise continues on Friday across multiple venues in all 30 wards of Makueni.

MAKUENI COUNTY EMPOWERMENT FUND DIGITIZATION WINS PRAISE AT NATIONAL DEVOLUTION CONFERENCE

Makueni County’s digital transformation of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) procedures has been recognized as a pioneering achievement at this year’s Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, officially opened by President William Ruto on Wednesday.

The digitization, developed in partnership with Safaricom, aligns perfectly with the conference’s focus on leveraging technology to bridge socio-economic gaps.

The re-engineered MCEF platform will streamline access to startup capital for social enterprises and community groups.

The upgraded fund is set for official rollout next month, empowering more beneficiaries with timely, equitable support.

GOVERNOR MUTULA KILONZO JR. SIGNS MUTULACARE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES.

Makueni Governor on Monday signed Mutulacare implementation guidlines to guide the County Assembly on the implementation of the Mutulacare scheme on the floor of the House.

This scheme is a County-led Universal Health Coverage initiative that will enhance access to Quality healthcare for all residents in the county.

While signing the guidelines, Governor Mutula said Mutulacare will pay for social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) for indigent and vulnerable households to enable access to health care in what was echoed by CECM Health, Joyce Mutua.

Beneficiaries will receive comprehensive heathcare including inpatient and outpatient services, dental and optical care, chronic illness management. They will also receive emergency treatment, including ambulance evacuations in the scheme which targets to cover over 50 per cent of Makueni residents.

Cabinet approved it last week.

Others present were DG Lucy Mulili, County Secretary, Justin Kyambi,

CECMs Finance Damaris Kavoi, Devolution, Nicholas Nzioka and Lands, Paul Musila, among others.

MAKUENI CHOSEN FOR FIRST-EVER EMERGENCY RESPONSE PILOT.

Makueni County has been selected as the pilot site for a groundbreaking four-year Highway Emergency Response Program launched by St. John’s Kenya.

The project, which will stretch along the busy Mombasa–Busia highway, aims to improve emergency medical care at accident-prone zones. It will establish 19 first aid stations, 4 trauma centers, and deploy 4 state-of-the-art ambulances staffed with trained paramedics to deliver timely post-crash care.

Speaking when he visited Makueni County headquarters, Dr. Robert Mutula, Chair of St. John’s Kenya, confirmed that Makueni will receive one ambulance, three First Aid posts, and one trauma center as part of the first phase. The national launch is scheduled for November this year in Emali Town.

Dr. Mutula further committed to making Makueni an emergency response hub for the Lower Eastern region by training local community members, including the Bodaboda operators in basic First Aid and victim assessment. Plans also include setting up a major blood transfusion center to serve accident victims in the region.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. hailed the initiative, calling it a God-sent opportunity that will ease the burden of disaster response along the heavily trafficked Mombasa Road, notorious for frequent and often fatal accidents.

Other key officials in attendance included Dr. Alex Muturi (St. John’s Council Member), Paul Ngugi (St. John’s CEO), CECM Health Joyce Mutua, Dr. Harvey Mulei (Chief Officer – Health HR & Admin), and Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi (Acting Chief Officer – Health), among others

GOVERNOR MUTULA TO COMMISSION STATE-OF-THE-ART HOSPITAL IN MAKINDU

Over 8,000 residents of Ngaakaa–Twaandu in Makindu Ward are set to gain access to advanced healthcare services with the construction of a state-of-the-art Level 3 hospital, funded through a partnership between World Vision Kenya and Mountain Blue Foundation.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. is expected to commission the facility in a month’s time.

The hospital will feature a mother and child block, a fully equipped maternity wing, a laboratory, administration offices, procedure rooms, a pharmacy, and a records unit.

It will replace the area’s small dispensary, which has been operating with limited capacity, marking a major leap in service delivery for the community.

The project also includes the installation of solar power for sustainable energy, procurement of essential medical equipment, and connection to the Kiboko–Twaandu water project to guarantee clean water supply for the facility and surrounding residents.

According to Chief Officer for Health Services Dr. Harvey Mulei, the partnership’s second phase will focus on equipping the hospital, while the county government will provide the necessary staff to ease the pressure on existing health facilities.

MAKUENI BOOSTS HEALTH SERVICES TO EASE WOTE HOSPITAL CONGESTION

Health services in facilities around Wote town are receiving a major upgrade as the Makueni County Government moves to ease the pressure on the County Referral Hospital and the maternity wing at the Mother and Child Hospital.

In collaboration with Eni Kenya, the county has already put into operation a newly equipped maternity block, complete with a septic-tank-linked ablution facility.

The initiative includes the ongoing transformation of Kambi Mawe Dispensary into a Level 3 facility.

The dispensary now boasts a modern ablution block designed with disability-friendly features, ensuring accessibility for persons with mobility challenges.

Beyond infrastructure, the partnership with Eni Kenya also supports maternal and child health programs and strengthens the blood donation unit at the County Referral Hospital.

The new ablution block at Kambi Mawe will be officially commissioned by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr in the coming days, marking another milestone in the county’s mission to bring quality healthcare closer to residents.

MBITINI PARISH HOSTS RECREATION SPORTS DAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAKUENI COUNTY GOVERNMENT

On August 7, Mbitini Catholic Parish hosted a vibrant Sports Day at Mulala Girls’ grounds in Emali-Mulala Ward, in collaboration with the Makueni County Government’s Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services.

The event brought together CWA members, local youth, women, and church leaders for a day of unity, health, and empowerment through sports.

Graced by the Executive Committee Member for Sports, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni and the parish priest, the day featured football, volleyball, and netball matches with teams drawn from various parish outstations.

Eng. Kyoni commended the parish for championing community-based sports and reaffirmed Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s commitment to inclusive sports development across all demographics.

MAKUENI TRIUMPHS AGAIN AT KENYA MUSIC FESTIVALS – DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS.

Makueni County’s Vocational Training Centres continued to make a strong impression at the ongoing Kenya Music Festivals in Meru County as Day 5 unfolded at Meru School.

Kyanduya VTC took the spotlight as Gregory Uhuru scooped position 1 out of 14 participants in the African Instrumentals category — a remarkable achievement that showcased musical mastery.

Mukatini VTC and Nduluku VTC also brought glory home, each securing position 1 in the Kamba Folk Song and Sacred Own Composition Song categories respectively.

Makueni Integrated Vocational Empowerment Centre (MIVEC) earned position 6 in the Choral Verse category, adding to the county’s growing list of national achievements.

Also representing Makueni County today were Ukia VTC and Nziu VTC, with strong performances that upheld the spirit and talent of the region.

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.

FIRST LADY VISITS SULTAN HAMUD HOSPITAL TO REVIEW MATERNITY WING PROGRESS

Makueni County First Lady, Anita Mutula on Thursday visited Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital to inspect ongoing construction of a new maternity wing aimed at expanding access to maternal healthcare.

The maternity facility has a 50-bed capacity, designed to address the rising number of deliveries at the hospital, which have surged to 180–190 mothers per month. The project is a partnership between Safaricom and the County Government of Makueni, reflecting a shared commitment to improving the quality of healthcare services for residents of Makueni and neighbouring counties.

The maternity wing is being developed at a total cost of Ksh 60 million, with Ksh 45 million allocated for construction and Ksh 15 million set aside for medical equipment. The facility is expected to be fully equipped and operational by November 2025.

The First Lady also toured other sections of the hospital to check on service delivery and patient care. Her visit coincided with the delivery of a new drug consignment, part of a wider county-wide initiative that has seen 17 major hospitals across Makueni receive fresh medical supplies to enhance service provision.

She was accompanied by Health Chief Officer Health, Dr. Harvey Mulei, the Chairman of the Hospital Board of Management, Major Leonard Kasyoka, Kasikeu Ward MCA Reuben Kavai, and other local leaders.