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NEW NGAAKAA HEALTH FACILITY SET TO OPEN ITS DOORS SOON.

Residents of Ngaakaa will soon benefit from a new state-of-the-art Level 3 health facility developed through a partnership between the County Government of Makueni and World Vision.

The county is finalizing the equipping process ahead of the facility’s official opening. Once operational, the facility will offer a modern maternity wing, a fully equipped laboratory, an administration block, procedure rooms, a pharmacy and a records office.

The development also includes installation of solar power and integration of the Kiboko–Twaandu water project to ensure reliable access to clean water.

The project forms part of governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s administration’s broader push to strengthen healthcare through strategic collaborations.

For instance, Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital is in the final stages of completing a new maternity wing delivered with support from the Safaricom Foundation, while discussions to have a new maternity block have been finalized for Kibwezi East Sub-County Hospital where another maternity wing is expected to significantly uplift the facility.

These investments signal a continued commitment by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. to expand quality healthcare access across Makueni County.

NEW MBOONI FAMILY HOSPITAL NEARS COMPLETION

Construction of the new Mbooni Family Hospital is 85% complete and on track for full completion by the end of October 2025.

The state-of-the-art facility, launched in May 2025, is set to boost healthcare services for residents of Mbooni and surrounding areas.

Once operational, the hospital will feature specialized neonatal and maternity wards, along with a range of clinical services, aiming to improve access to quality healthcare across the region.

During a recent site inspection, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health, Joyce Mutua, urged the contractor to prioritize timely delivery without compromising quality.

She emphasized the hospital’s critical role in enhancing health service delivery for Makueni County. Mutua was accompanied by CECM for Finance, Damaris Kavoi.

NEW MATERNITY BLOCK BRINGS RELIEF TO KAMBI MAWE MOTHERS

Residents of Kambi Mawe and its surrounding areas have a new reason to celebrate following the completion and commissioning of a modern maternity block by the Makueni County Government.

For years, expectant women in the area endured long journeys to Wote in search of maternity services.

That struggle has now come to an end after Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr officially opened the new facility on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in improving maternal health care in the region.

The project was implemented in partnership with ENI Kenya, which supported the county through its corporate social responsibility initiative.

The company donated essential maternity equipment, constructed an ablution block, and installed a septic tank to enhance sanitation and functionality within the facility.

ENI Kenya Managing Director Daniella Morra emphasized the organization’s continued collaboration with Makueni, affirming their commitment to support more community-centered projects when the need arises.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. reiterated his administration’s determination to deliver quality and accessible healthcare across Makueni, noting that improved health infrastructure remains at the heart of his development agenda.

NEW MAKUENI PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD MEMBERS SWORN IN, URGED TO CHAMPION WORKERS WELFARE.

Makueni County Public Service Board has been fully constituted after three newly appointed members took the oath of office in a ceremony marked by a strong call for integrity and protection of workers’ welfare.

Josephine Mbena Mwau, Zebedee Mwandi and Deborah Mutheu Kyalo were sworn in for a six-year term in an exercise conducted by the county attorney and witnessed by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and his deputy, Lucy Mulili.

Mutula challenged the board to uphold integrity and stamp out malpractice within the county workforce, warning that no employee should take shortcuts under its watch.

He directed the now fully constituted board to prioritise staff welfare, describing human resources as Makueni’s greatest asset and a key driver of the county’s social and economic transformation.

The governor further called for swift implementation of a clear rewards and sanctions framework to recognise hardworking employees while enforcing accountability.

Deputy Governor Mulili urged the board to entrench professionalism and remain sensitive to both county development goals and staff growth.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR 400 PWDs AS THEY GET MODERN WHEELCHAIRS

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services  in partnership with Hope Mobility Kenya  has kicked off a 3-day exercise to fit and issue wheelchairs to 400 persons  living with disabilities in the county.  

The Sh 20M worth of chairs are modified and assembled to fit the specific needs of the beneficiaries in relation to their disability. 

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Tuesday flagged off the exercise at the Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre in Wote.  He said this is part of his administration’s inclusivity agenda where no one is left behind in the county development agenda, their age, status in society or physical location notwithstanding.  

The county government has a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Hope Mobility Kenya which will see more needy residents benefit from mobility assistive devices over the partnership period.

NEW KSH 45 MILLION LEVEL 3 HOSPITAL TO TRANSFORM HEALTHCARE IN NGAAKAA-TWAANDU

Over 8,000 residents of Ngaakaa-Twaandu in Makindu Ward are set to benefit from an upcoming state-of-the-art Level 3 hospital, thanks to a KSh 45 million investment by World Vision Kenya.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, alongside the World Vision Kenya team, led the groundbreaking ceremony of phase one of the project on Tuesday.

The facility, backed by Mountain Blue Foundation, will feature a mother and child block, a modern maternity wing, a fully equipped laboratory, an administration block, procedure rooms, a pharmacy, and a records office.

Additionally, the project includes the installation of solar energy to power the facility, procurement of essential medical equipment, and implementation of the Kiboko-Twaandu water project to enhance access to clean water.

Beyond healthcare, World Vision Kenya is implementing a water project in Kitise, where 10,000 residents will benefit from the Kwa-Kamaso water project, implemented in partnership with the county government.

To further improve livelihoods, the organization will distribute 250-liter water tanks to local households, supply solar lamps to over 4,000 registered school children in the area, and empower lead farmers through training on Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR).

NEW HOPE FOR POOR HOUSEHOLDS AS MAKUENI ROLLS OUT ULTRA-POOR GRADUATION PROGRAM

Picture This!

By 2023, Catherine Kyalo and her husband, Kyalo Kaluma of Muumani in Kithungo/Kitundu Ward, were considered a peasant couple struggling to make ends meet.

In 2024, a national government program, the Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP), identified Catherine and other women, enrolling them in business development training and mentorship. Each member later received KES 30,000 to start an income-generating venture. Catherine chose irrigation farming, supported by a nearby spring whose water flows by gravity. She ventured into cabbage farming and made a profit of about KES 45,000.

Fast forward to 2025: Catherine is now one of the most successful irrigation farmers in the area. She is currently growing off-season green maize, which she hopes to sell before December 2025 for over KES 60,000.

The program, commonly referred to as the Ultra-Poor Graduation initiative, equips households in extreme poverty with the foundation they need to build lasting livelihoods. Through a package that includes business training, seed capital/cash transfers, and a strong Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) structure, the program enables participants to grow stable enterprises and achieve self-reliance.

So far, the program has reached 3,000 households in Mbooni and Kibwezi, graduating them from extreme poverty to stable income generation through village enterprises.

The County Government of Makueni, through the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services is now benchmarking on these successes as it prepares to roll out its own Ultra-Poor Graduation scheme.

The county initiative also includes Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF), which provides financial support to already graduated groups and individuals to further enhance sustainable income generation and financial inclusion under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s inclusive development agenda.

NEW HOPE FOR 220 MAKUENI RESIDENTS AS THEY RECEIVE MODERN WHEELCHAIRS

Over 220 persons with mobility challenges in Makueni have received modern and customised wheelchairs in a life-changing initiative spearheaded by the County Government of Makueni in partnership with Hope Mobility Kenya. The support is anchored on a 5-year working partnership aimed at enhancing the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities

For the beneficiaries, the wheelchairs are a much-needed reprieve, enabling them to move with ease and perform many daily tasks unaided. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s administration continues to champion inclusivity, ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind in the county’s development journey.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Hope Mobility Kenya Executive Director Jack Muthui and Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni presided over the handing ceremony on Wednesday.

In the last financial year, the county government issued 800 wheelchairs, 400 of which were donated by Hope Mobility.

Looking ahead, plans are underway to transform the Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre into a Centre of Excellence for modification of assistive devices, positioning it as a hub for supporting persons with disabilities across the Lower Eastern region.

New County Secretary Sworn into Office

Makueni now has a new County Secretary.

Mr. Benjamin Mutie took oath of office on Friday morning as the new CS.

Mr. Mutie holds a Master’s and Bachelor degree of Arts from the University of Nairobi.

Mr. Benjamin Mutie taking oath of office as the new CS
Mr. Benjamin Mutie taking oath of office as the new CS

He brings to the table a wealth of experience in administration, having previously worked as: Chairperson Makueni County Public Service Board; Director of Programmes, Kenya Institute of Social Work, a leading Institution of Social Work and Community Development in Kenya. He has also worked with several Community Based Development Organizations in Kenya and within the Eastern Region as a Trainer and a Consultant.

The swearing in was witnessed by governor Kivutha Kibwana in his office and several members of his cabinet.

Two members of the County Public Service Board were also sworn into office in the same event.

The two are Isaac Savali Sila who takes over as the Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the board and Margaret Musyoka, a member to the board.

  • April 17, 2020 in News