Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

News

NZAUI/KILILI/KALAMBA FARMERS GET CRITICAL SKILLS ON MANGO MANAGEMENT

Over 200 mango farmers in Nzaui/Kilili/Kalamba Ward have received timely training on mango management, coming at a crucial flowering season when pest control, proper nutrition, and orchard care determine the year’s harvest.

The Tuesday session, graced by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli and CO Dr. Victoria Kyalo, equipped farmers with practical skills on flowering care, pest and disease prevention, fruit thinning and soil nutrition; essential steps to improve both the quality and quantity of mango production.

The training, also attended by sub-county administrators, agro-input suppliers, mango off-takers and value chain leaders, was anchored on three key goals: helping farmers adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), linking them with off-takers for binding contracts, and connecting them to reliable input suppliers.

So far, similar trainings have been rolled out in Kako/Waia, Masongaleni, Kikumbulyu South, Ivinza, Thange, Emali/Mulala, and Mavindini wards, with Nzakika cluster alone registering 2,080 farmers.

More sessions are planned for Kalawa, Ukia, Kaskeu, Kisau/Kiteta, and Tulimani wards in the coming weeks, ensuring wider farmer coverage ahead of the harvest season.

NYERI TAPS MAKUENI’S ICT INNOVATIONS TO BOOST SERVICE DELIVERY

Nyeri County is looking to adopt cutting-edge digital systems from Makueni County in a bid to streamline operations and improve service delivery.

A delegation from Nyeri, led by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education, Training and Devolution, Margaret Macharia, and the Director of ICT, Felix Muriuki, is in Makueni for a week-long benchmarking visit focused on ICT integration, innovation, and education systems.

The team was officially received by Makueni Deputy Governor H.E. Lucy Mulili at her Wote office, where they were welcomed by CECM for ICT, Education and Internship Elizabeth Muli, Chief Officer Irene Makau, and County Attorney Stanley Nthiwa, among other county officials.

The benchmarking tour centres on Makueni’s Project Management and Tracking System (PMTS)—a homegrown digital solution that enhances transparency, accountability, and real-time monitoring of development projects—as well as the Education Management Information System (EMIS), which has been instrumental in streamlining operations across vocational training institutions.

The delegation kicked off their field visits at Nziu Vocational Training Centre, a flagship institution showcasing the county’s successful integration of ICT in practical skills training. Here, they interacted with trainers and students to gain insights into how digital tools are being used to empower youth and support technical education.

Speaking during the visit, CECM Margaret Macharia commended Makueni’s innovative approach to public service delivery, noting that the lessons drawn from the visit would inform Nyeri’s journey towards a more digitally enabled county government.

The benchmarking tour underlines Nyeri County’s strategic commitment to embracing ICT solutions to improve efficiency, promote transparency, and drive inclusive development.

NUNGUNI MARKET TRADERS TO BENEFIT FROM MODERN MARKET PROJECT

Nunguni market traders are set to benefit from a modern, well-organized trading space after Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr laid the foundation stone for the construction of a state-of-the-art market shed.

The Kshs. 80 million project, a flagship initiative of the county government, will be implemented in two phases, with Kshs. 50 million allocated in the 2025/26 financial year.

The new market is designed to ease congestion by relocating hawkers from roadside spaces into a centralized, secure, and orderly facility.

Key features of the project include:

• A basement that will serve as both a parking lot and an open-air market,

• A ground floor dedicated to green grocer traders, and

• A first floor for traders from other sectors.

This transformative development is expected to boost business efficiency, improve customer access, and enhance the overall trading experience in Nunguni town.

NORTHERN CORRIDOR OFFICIALS SEEK PARTNERSHIP WITH MAKUENI

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday received officials from the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), led by Director for Investment and Promotion Dennis Mganga, during a courtesy call at his office.

The NCTTCA which includes Road networks, Railways and Pipelines is a major trade route linking Kenya to the wider East African region, coordinating cargo movement and promoting infrastructure development to strengthen cross-border trade.

The visit focused on exploring collaboration with Makueni County to tap into economic opportunities along the busy transnational highway.

Governor Kilonzo welcomed the initiative, noting that Makueni has open spaces for investment in infrastructure that can spur growth.

He emphasized that the partnership will ease transport for farmers and traders, making it easier to sell and move produce.

The Governor was flanked by Trade CECM Dr. Sonia Nzilani and Transport counterpart Eng. Peter Mumo.

Nordic Ambassadors in Makueni to learn about the County’s devolution success stories

Governor Kivutha Kibwana and his deputy Adelina Mwau on Tuesday hosted ambassadors from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway who are in Makueni to learn about the county’s devolution success stories.

Finland Ambassador to Kenya Erik Lundberg cited that the county’s outstanding performance in devolution under the leadership of governor Kibwana was the driving force behind the visit.

He said: “We wanted to visit Makueni for many reasons but primarily we are impressed by the good work you have been doing in many areas.”

Mr. Lundberg further said that they had come to learn the success stories that Makueni has to share with the rest of the county adding that it was an opportunity for both parties to share experiences and learn from each other.

Mette Knudsen, his Danish counterpart applauded the county’s model of public participation, that starts from the villages up to the county level, saying that it was worth their support.

“We think Makueni county is a place where the leadership wants to make some change for their people and they have a very positive way of engaging the population and that is worth supporting,” Knudsen said.

Knudsen was also impressed by the new Mother and Child facility that was launched last week by the county government saying that it was a milestone worth emulation by the other counties.

Although devolution had its own challenges, Governor Kibwana said they were faithful to article 1 of the 2010 constitution adding that it is an important strength when development is owned and driven by the people.

NO MORE DARK NIGHTS IN KITONGU MARKET!

Business owners and patrons of Kitongu Market in Kako/Waia Ward now have a reason to smile after the Department of Energy installed a 20-meter-high mast solar floodlight in the market. Thanks to this initiative, businesses and customers will no longer have to worry about dark nights or security threats after sunset.

In the 2024/2025 Financial Year, the department successfully installed 45 integrated solar market lights across 9 Wards: Thange, Masongaleni, Mtito Andei, Kee, Ilima, Kisau/Kiteta, Kako/Waia, Kathonzweni, and Kitise/Kithuki.

Additionally, 17 grid-powered market floodlights were installed across 7 Wards—Kithungo/Kitundu, Tulimani, Nguumo, Kikumbulyu North, Kitise/Kithuki, Mbitini, and Ukia—further enhancing visibility and security in local markets.

#WauniWaKwikaNesaNaUlungalu