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Why there will be no projects duplication in Makueni

Makueni, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) implementing partners on Friday concluded a two-day joint work planning workshop aiming at ensuring no duplication of development projects in the county.

The partners’ discussion stretched into joint designing, planning, monitoring, and learning so that they don’t implement similar projects.

The process of a joint work plan is a result of an MoU that the County signed with USAID in 2020, and has since provided an avenue to jointly examine data, and evaluate past progress so as to identify priority areas for the next fiscal year.

During the workshop, the partners identified the main priority areas of the Governor’s Manifesto for inclusion in the Joint Work Planning, awaiting validation and signing off by USAID and Makueni for implementation to commence.

The workshop was facilitated by USAID Resilience Learning Activity (RLA).

 

Why Rural industrialization is Kenya’s future

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Thursday paid a courtesy call to the Makueni Agri-hub at Kwa Kathoka for an insight about the operations of the oil seed pressing plant.

The plant, owned by Italian firm Eni Kenya, processes vegetable oil from cotton, castor, and croton seeds for bio-refining to make biofuel.

According to a report on the project status “Seeds for Energy”, the firm is currently involving 25,000 farmers, with an early agricultural production projection of 30,000 tons per year by 2023 and an expected 200,000 tons per year by 2026 when the firm will be fully operational.

Three months ago, the firm shipped out its first vegetable oil cargo to Gela bio-refinery-one of the top innovative bio-refineries in Europe.

The Governor was thrilled by the fact that thousands of farmers in Makueni have turned to farming the firm’s raw materials, creating indirect employment opportunities for them, and directly where many people have secured jobs in the industry.

More important, Governor Mutula was elated by the company’s circular economy model in producing Agri-feedstock raw materials making livestock feeds production less cost.

 

 

 

Why H.E the Governor visited WHO HQs

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr accompanied by Health CECM Dr. Paul Musila last week held a series of health meetings at Geneva, the World Health Organization, (WHO), Headquarters, Switzerland, to discuss various public health issues including how to use innovation in scaling up access to quality care and training as one way of addressing health workforce shortage.
In one of the meetings with Peter Singer, a special advisor to WHO’s CEO, Dr. Tedros and Dr. Shannon Shibata-Germanos, founder of Lacuna advisors, and an investor in health-tech, biotech, and med-tech, they discussed on how to deal with Makueni’s rising community hypertension and how to use digital health systems such as proximie tech (where surgeons always have direct access to expertise remotely using cameras to help in doing surgeries) in efficient decentralised surgical clinical mentorship programs.
Makueni is currently using proximie tech during surgical procedures hence cutting cost, improving patients safety and doing various health sustainable practices ,all at once.
 

Why Governor Mutula took another return of his development tour to Mtito-Andei.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has concluded his one-day intense development tour of Mtito-Andei ward that involved inspecting and commissioning of several projects that impact ordinary citizens with a promise of implementing more development projects that are effective, and to the needs of the locals in that area.
In the morning, the governor opened to the public a Community Information Center (CIC) and a County Technical Institute in Mtito Andei Town and also, through Faith Kenya Mission commissioned a water point that is housing a library in the township where residents as they fetch water can borrow general knowledge books-a path to eradicating illiteracy.
He also commissioned Kwa Diana Misuuni water pipeline that will serve at least 2,600 households drawn from Mitooni, Misuuni,Yindundu,Athi Makutano and songea villages within Kiteng’ei.
In the neighbouring Kyusyani area, accompanied by several partners, he commissioned both science and computer laboratories for Kyusyani Secondary School done through County partnership with Safaricom Foundation, Addax, Oryx and Savo Trust.
In the evening, H.E the governor commissioned Nzoila ECDE public centre which has been build and equipped by the County, a center that will offer conducive learning environment for 46 young learners.
Later, he inspected the Darajani Community Information Centre, attended a free medical camp where 183 residents were screened for various diseases, a camp organized by health department before addressing a public baraza.
 

Well done, a Senate committee tells Governor Mutula for spurring development.

On Tuesday, the Senate Public Accounts Committee held a meeting with H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr to Consider the Auditor-General’s Reports on the Financial Statements of the County Executive of Makueni for the Financial Year 2019/2020.
The committee led by vice chairperson Senator Samson Cherargei, Nandi, was thrilled by the governor’s efforts in ensuring the prudent use of resources and digitizing revenue collection exercise through the launch of the MyMakueni App.
Senators Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) and Richard Onyonka (Kisii) termed Makueni as a benchmark County for a successful devolution story. Makueni’s Revenue collection has grown from sh. 749 million same periods last year to 780 million in the current year.

 

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES VERIFICATION EXERCISE

Did you know the Government Makueni County has been championing a vital initiative to ensure fair trading practices and safeguard consumer rights?

Pursuant to Weights and Measures Act (Cap 513), the County Weights and Measures Unit has been diligently implementing a regular comprehensive verification program aimed at confirming the accuracy of weighing equipment used across various sectors.

This program focuses on crucial areas such as petrol station pumps, butchery scales and shop weighing systems.

By verifying the correctness of these equipment, the exercise seeks to promote transparency and ensure that customers receive the exact quantity of goods they pay for, reflecting the true value of their transactions.

Further, the exercise is a strategic approach to avoid potential losses caused by improperly calibrated equipment.

During the exercise, fault weighing equipment are calibrated correctly to meet regulatory standards.

Hence, the County Weights and Measures Unit encourages entrepreneurs to actively embrace the regular verification practice of equipment for fair-trade practices.

‘Waùni wa kwika nesa na ùlùngalu’

We will partner with Counties to support Flood Victims: CS

Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has announced plans by the national government through his ministry to partner with county governments to address the effects of floods.

Speaking on Friday when he toured Makueni to assess the damage caused by the floods, Chelugui said a consolidated report of all affected counties will be tabled to the president for fast mobilization of resources to remedy the floods disaster.

The CS, together with his host, Governor Kivutha Kibwana toured Kamunyolo dam which supplies the bulk of water to Wote residents which breached following heavy rains. They also toured Kamunyii sand dam that was affected.

Chelugui described the destruction as massive adding that his ministry is on a red alert for any emerging critical needs occasioned by the disaster especially water crises, medical supplies and other non-food requirements.

Kibwana said the situation in Makueni is dire, with 83 dams affected where 25 of those have totally breached and need reconstruction.

He said hundreds of residents have completely lost their livelihoods after their farms along Athi River were washed away.

According to a report on the magnitude of the disaster that Kibwana presented to the CS, 18 people from Makueni have lost their lives while a third of Kiaoni, a market center at the border of Kitui and Makueni along the Kibwezi-Kitui road was washed.

We will guarantee prudent use of public resources- Governor Mutula

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Monday gave a commitment that his government will continue running, good, and effective systems with prudent use of all resources where Makueni people will get value for their money.
He assured of accurate management and control of public resources in a way that is lawful, transparent, economical and as authorized.
Mutula Jnr called on all officers to make proper use of all resources at their disposal warning that anyone found to have breached prudent use of such resources will be personally held accountable.
The governor was speaking during the 2022/2023 FY auditors’ entry meeting for setting out the Financial Year’s compliance audit scope and approach at wote social hall that was attended by representatives from the Office of the Auditor General, CECMs, County Accounting Officers among other government officials.

We Require Ksh. 1 Billion to Recover From Floods Havoc: Kibwana

Governor Kivutha Kibwana and senator Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Monday led a consultative meeting with Makueni leaders to strategise on how to handle emergency response following deadly floods in the county.

Addressing the forum Prof Kibwana said that the county will require Sh 1 billion to support full recovery from the devastating effects of the havoc that has caused 17 deaths and massive displacement of persons.

According to a report by the county government on the effect of the disaster, 26 dams have been breached, houses collapsed and crops destroyed.

The report further indicates that Sh 205 million is required to repair all the water projects damaged by the floods while Sh 282 million is required to repair damaged roads under the county jurisdiction.

“We estimate the cost of complete repairs and restoration of people’s livelihoods will be over Sh 2 billion,”Prof Kibwana said.

Adding that Sh 500 million is required immediately to facilitate immediate repair works in order to restore normalcy.

The government Prof Kibwana said will be forced to review its 2018-2019 budget in order to focus on addressing the damages and losses caused by the rains.

He said: “We will have to inevitably review and where possible suspend some of the development projects earlier included in our 2018-2019 budget so as to enable us facilitate a recovery plan.”

Prof Kibwana said that the decision to divert the budget plan is painful but one that is a necessary sacrifice.

The governor and the Senator together with members of parliament, members of the county assembly and the county executives agreed to form a committee to coordinate emergency response and avert further loss of lives, property and human suffering out of the raging floods.

The committee was formed on Monday in a meeting of all elected leaders within the county and other stakeholders to draw a roadmap for a united response to the flooding catastrophe.

The committee will among other tasks define priority areas for response, define flood zones along rivers and evacuate where possible, mobilization of the general public to contribute to support the emergency responses as well as lobby other partners to support response initiatives.

The committee comprises of the Governor, County Secretary, CECs (Lands, Finance, Roads, Health, Devolution and Water), Office of the senator, KeRRA, Red Cross, Office of County Commissioner, Security, Clerk of County Assembly, NDMA, All MPs or their representatives and office of the County Representative.

The governor said the county government has already developed a disaster communication structure and protocol which includes a toll free line manned by Kenya Red Cross, short code (40014) for two way messaging as well as establishment of a disaster command center.

Mr Mutula asked local leaders to unite in order to jointly tackle the flood crisis adding that mobilization of relief support from all quarters was necessary.

“We must work together on this one so that we mobilise as much resources as possible for us to succeed,” he said.

The Senator urged the local county assembly to allow passage of an emergency fund in order to make government response to special programs much easier.

“This emergency funds we are talking about must be passed now.MCAs have been resistant but I think it is important and must be considered,” he said.

  • April 30, 2018 in News