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GOVERNOR MUTULA CONDOLES WITH FAMILIES OF MUATINENI DROWNING ACCIDENT

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Monday condoled with families who lost their loved ones through drowning while attempting to cross Muatineni River aboard a truck.

At Sultan Hamud Sub-county Hospital where he met the bereaved families, Governor Mutula said the accident was a tragedy that could have been avoided if the bridge was constructed to standard, and if people were patient to allow the water level to subside.

As of Monday, 9 am, 14 people had been rescued, 10 bodies recovered while four people were still missing. Search for the missing persons is still ongoing downstream led by a multi-agency team of emergency officers.

The County government has waived postmortem fees for the dead and will also support the families purchase coffins so as to lessen the financial burden associated with burial.

Governor Mutula said the county government will train more local volunteers on safety and rescue so as to avert any further loss of life in such eventualities.

UPDATE ON MUATINENI RIVER DISASTER AS AT 27TH APRIL 2024

Following the Disaster at River Muatineni in Sultan Hamud, the following is an update of the rescue and recovery mission by the County, National Government and Redcross Multi-agency team.

1. Persons rescued: 14

2. Bodies recovered: 8

3. Persons reported missing: 8

A command post and tracing center established at Sultan Hamud Hospital.

Call 0715 486141 incase you find a missing person or any other emergency

UK PLEDGES MILLIONS FOR GREEN INVESTMENT PROJECTS IN KENYAN COUNTIES

The United Kingdom has pledged £6.6 million in financial support to initiate the development of 50 green investment projects across 10 counties in Kenya. This funding initiative, announced at an event in Nairobi, is guided by the County Green Finance Assessment report, launched on Thursday.

The report evaluates the 10 counties’ capacity, including Makueni, to access green finance, enabling them to channel investments into vital sectors such as water, healthcare, energy, and infrastructure. Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili emphasized that this initiative would yield economic benefits while addressing the specific needs of local communities.

Produced by Financial Sector Deepening Kenya, an independent trust supported by the UK government, the assessment analyzed each county based on financial performance, credit risk, availability of green investment opportunities, and their ability to manage green finance.

FSD Kenya collaborates on this project with the Capital Markets Authority, the ADA Consortium, the Nairobi Securities Exchange, and the National Treasury and Economic Planning.

FARMERS RECEIVE AGROCHEMICALS TO BOOST FRUIT FARMING

400 farmers from Tulimani Ward in Mbooni have received agrochemicals as part of an initiative to bolster fruit value chain development in the county.

The assorted agrochemicals will play a crucial role in managing destructive pests and controlling fruit diseases.

The distribution exercise, spearheaded by Livestock Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza, took place on Friday at Kalawani Social Hall. He was accompanied by the area MCA, Kyalo Mumo.

FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO EMBRACE SACCOS FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock, through NARIGP has launched a campaign to raise awareness among farmers in the county about the benefits of joining SACCOs.

The goal of the campaign is to bring together smallholder farmers and Common Interest Groups (CIGs) into SACCOs, enabling them to access affordable credit for adopting advanced technologies, innovations, and management practices.

The County Project Coordinator, Paul Musyimi is spearheading the sensitization efforts, which commenced on Thursday in Mtito-Andei and Kiima Kiu Kalanzoni Wards.

This campaign serves as a precursor to the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), which will collaborate with SACCOs, a departure from NARIGP’s focus on CIGs.

NAVCDP envisions each SACCO having a minimum membership of 600 and a capital threshold of Kshs. 500,000 to qualify for an inclusion grant of Kshs. 1 million, aimed at facilitating office setup.

Musyimi is actively urging all farmers in Makueni to join respective ward-based SACCOs.

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.

GOVERNOR MUTULA WOOS INVESTORS TO MAKUENI WITH FAVORABLE LAND LEASE OFFERS.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has urged investors to consider Makueni County as a prime location for industrial ventures, saying his government is ready to provide land.

Mutula emphasized that such ventures would not only create employment opportunities for local residents but also bolster the national economy.

The governor spoke on Wednesday when he issued a land lease title deed to ENI Kenya Managing Director Enrico Tavolini, marking a tangible commitment by the administration to facilitate the flourishing of industries within the county.

Eni Kenya, the country’s first agri-hub that produces vegetable oil and related bio-products, has already established a factory in Makueni County. 

The Kshs. 2 billion plant has over 200 workers, mostly young people from the county.

ENI Kenya has pledged to contribute to community welfare by establishing a maternity facility at Kambi Mawe and providing neo-natal equipment to the Makueni Referral Hospital in Wote as part of its corporate social responsibility.

MAKUENI TO SET UP CROP PROTECTION UNIT

Wote: April 24, 2024

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr receives a consignment of assorted agricultural chemicals and equipment from the Ministry of Agriculture, in Wote, for pests management and control of crop diseases.

Governor Mutula has directed the Department of Agriculture to set up a rapid response crop protection unit to help farmers manage pests and control crop diseases for enhanced food security.

He was accompanied by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua.

MESPT DELEGATION APPLAUDS MAKUENI AGRICULTURE SCHOOL FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

April 23, 2024

MESPT Delegation Applauds Makueni Agriculture School for Innovative Technologies

A high-powered delegation from the Micro Enterprises Programme Trust (MESPT) visited Makueni to assess the Agriculture TVET at Kwa-Kathoka and engage with students on field attachment, as part of their oversight roles for co-funded projects.

These students, sponsored by the County Government of Makueni, ADSE, and MESPT, are part of the inaugural cohort undergoing agricultural courses at the school, expressing hope for a bright future and aspirations to establish their own enterprises.

The 60 trainees are gaining valuable insights from leading agriprenuer enterprises in the county, such as BEFA Feeds, Iviani Farm, RipeGrow Enterprises, Kwa Malika Farm, and Makueni Chicken Queen Enterprise.

The county government, collaborating with like-minded partners, aims to expand the Agricultural school at ATC Kwa-Kathoka to equip more youth with green skills to boost their employability and ensure food security in the region.

MAKUENI AND BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN MAKUENI COUNTY.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday hosted  a British High Commission delegation led by Daniel Wilcox, the Economic Counsellor at the High Commission, who paid him a courtesy call in Makueni 

The team discussed modalities of joint resource mobilization to promote innovative renewable energy technologies and the transition from grid-powered to solar-powered systems within Makueni County.

One of the identified areas of partnership is setting up a state-of-the-art County Energy Center in Kisingo Technical Training Institute to serve the county and country at large.

The UK PACT team, county officials for Energy & Environment visited Makueni County Referral Hospital to inspect ongoing installation of solar panels that will enable 100% reliance on solar power. This project which is jointly funded by the UK in collaboration with the county government will generate 200 kilowatts and is expected to save power costs for the hospital by Sh 7 million annually.