News

NZAUI NATURE TRAIL SHOWCASES MAKUENI’S SCENIC BEAUTY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

Makueni County’s scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage were on full display today during the inaugural 13-kilometer nature trail hike at Nzaui Hill.

The event organized by the tourism directorate and led by Dr. Sonia Nzilani, the CECM for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture, and Tourism attracted a diverse group of participants including tour operators, local farmers, hoteliers, and professional hikers.

Participants enjoyed breathtaking views from 1,833 meters above sea level Nzaui Peak and visited the legendary Mulata Ìvia rock, which features human footprints believed to mark the first landing place of the Kamba people.

The six-hour hike included thrilling fun games, health talks, entertainment, and comedy, culminating in a tree-planting ceremony in the forest.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Nzilani emphasized the importance of preserving Makueni’s natural attractions and announced plans to organize similar activities in other regions.

The event was also attended by Eng. Peter Mumo, CECM for Gender, Youth, and Sports, Dr. Faith Mwende of the _No Summit too high_ along with other stakeholders such as the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and media representatives.

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.

NZAKIKA RESIDENTS APPLAUD UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE MASS REGISTRATION DRIVE

Residents of Nzaui-Kilili-Kalamba Ward in Makueni Sub-county have lauded the ongoing mass registration for Makueni’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.

Anchored under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the mass registration exercise targets over 200,000 residents across the county in a bid to cushion them against prohibitive out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

Makueni County has committed to paying premiums for vulnerable households identified through public participation at the cluster level to ensure that as many residents as possible are covered.

The programme is part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s inclusivity agenda, aimed at ensuring a healthy citizenry in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

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.

NYANDARUA DELEGATION BENCHMARKS MAKUENI’S DIGITAL AND MATERNAL HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS

The Government of Makueni County on Wednesday hosted a high-level delegation from Nyandarua County for a benchmarking visit at Makueni County Referral Hospital, as counties continue to embrace knowledge sharing in strengthening healthcare systems.

The delegation, led by Nyandarua CECM for Health Juliana Tsinanga alongside Chief Officers and Medical Superintendents, toured the facility to learn about governance and administration of the Level 5 hospital, management of clinical services, maternal healthcare and specialized treatment areas including oncology.

A key area of interest was the Proximie technology, an innovative digital health platform enabling doctors at Makueni County Referral Hospital to remotely guide, train and support other health facilities in clinical procedures and specialized care.

Makueni CECM for Health Services Joyce Mutua noted that the benchmarking visit provided an opportunity for health professionals from both counties to exchange knowledge and strengthen service delivery systems aimed at improving patient care.

Nyandarua Health Services CECM Juliana Tsinanga applauded Makueni for its strides in digital health and maternal healthcare, particularly efforts that have contributed to reducing maternal mortality linked to Postpartum hemorrhage. She also commended the county’s openness, collaborative approach and innovative strategies in retaining healthcare workers within the system.

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.