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MAKUENI SIGNS A DEAL TO STRENGTHEN CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT.

Makueni County has signed a memorandum of understanding with two NGOs to strengthen citizen participation in development.

The agreement was signed on Thursday by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and representatives from Makueni Development Trust (MADET) and Kitise Rural Development (KRD) at the Governor’s office in Wote.

Governor Mutula emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in strengthening locally-led and locally-managed county development initiatives.

The collaboration is aimed at addressing the development concerns of the citizens through participatory planning, social accountability and community-led resource mobilization.

Kitise Rural Development has been instrumental in piloting the Makueni Governance Project that seeks to promote just and accountable governance through public participation in Kitise/Kithuki and Makindu Wards.

The county government has through this program trained and sensitized the community on their social-economic rights in order to increase their knowledge, enabling them to make informed decisions through public participation.

MAKUENI SIGNS 8 MOUS WITH PARTNERS TO PROMOTE FOOD PRODUCTION

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Monday signed Memorandums of Understanding with 8 development partners in the agricultural sector aimed at boosting food production through different value chains development.

The partnerships, Governor Mutula said, aim to among others:

  1. Advancement of agro-based industries and promote food exports through agricultural enteprise development;

2. Support youth- led and youth-driven social economic innovation and entrepreneural activities;

3. Train farmer groups on various organic farming practices, commercial seed production and marketing of drought tolerant crops such as greengrams and pigeon peas;

4.Provide appropriate extension support to farmers and support prevention and management of pests and diseases;

5. Mobilize farmers and train them on Simsim farming as well as offer infrastructure support throughout the county;

6. Provide linkages between farmers and service providers.

The Partners to this cooperation are: Biovision Africa Trust, Alternatives Africa Limited, Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management, SOLIDARIDAD East and Central Africa Expertise Centre, Biodiversity and Biosafety Association, Cereal Growers Association, and Mama Fresh Company Limited.

MAKUENI SHINES WITH THREE AWARDS AT GENDER JUSTICE GALA

Makueni County emerged as a top achiever during the inaugural Gender Justice Change Makers Awards held on Thursday night at a Nairobi hotel, bringing home three prestigious honors.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. was honored with the 2024 Gender Justice Award for Enabling Legal Environment, acknowledging his commitment to fostering policies that promote gender equity. The county’s Sector Working Group was recognized as the second runners-up, highlighting its collaborative efforts in advancing gender justice. Additionally, the County Director of Gender, Children and Social Services received an award for outstanding contributions to gender justice initiatives.

The event,organized by Equality Now, celebrated the transformative work of individuals and institutions in addressing sexual and gender-based violence while creating a platform to discuss persisting challenges in the fight for gender equality.

Receiving the awards on behalf of the county, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili lauded Makueni’s progress in policy development, including the implementation of the Social Protection Policy, Gender Policy, Sexual Harassment at the Workplace Policy, and Children Policy, among others.

Mulili underscored the county’s commitment to ensuring a fair and inclusive society for all, adding that the awards gala brought together stakeholders from across the country, reaffirming a shared dedication to eliminating gender-based violence and advancing justice for vulnerable groups.

MAKUENI SETS SIGHT ON MULTIPLE KYISA TROPHIES AS TOURNAMENT NEARS CONCLUSION

Makueni has set hopes high to scoop several of the trophies on offer at the 9th edition of Kenya Youth Inter-county Sports Association Games taking place in Malindi, Kilifi County.

On Thursday, our football girls knocked Nakuru 1-0 to climb to second position on 5 points in a Round Robin pool.The girls need just one more win against Kilifi to be crowned champions.

In men volleyball, Makueni progressed to the semi finals after beating Nyeri 3-2 and Siaya 3-0. They will still meet Siaya in the semi’s. The girls volleyball team is also through to semi’s after beating Nyeri 3-0 but falling 3-0 to Siaya.

Makueni basketball girls went on the rampage against Lamu in a 61-15 thriller that left the Lamu girls gasping for breath. The men basket ballers also thrashed Siaya 45-39 in one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament.

Makueni was however unsuccessful in Men football, falling 1-0 to Siaya in a quarter final clash.

MAKUENI SET TO WELCOME KENYA SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE CAMPUS

Makueni County is poised to gain significantly in agricultural education with the proposed establishment of a Kenya School of Agriculture campus at Kwa-Kathoka.

This is following a public participation meeting held on Monday by stakeholders drawn from Agricultural, Administrative, Business and Education sectors to discuss the project, which will be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

The campus will offer diploma programs and skill-based short courses, designed specifically to meet the needs of local farmers and the regional economy.

Speaking during the forum, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Joyce Mutua emphasized the positive impact on farmers’ skills and local job opportunities that will be created upon establishment of the institution.

The Makueni campus is part of a national plan to expand agricultural education, with four additional campuses slated for Busia, Meru, Kericho, and Kilifi counties.

The meeting featured contributions from various stakeholders including Eng. Gordon Nyakiti from the Kenya School of Agriculture, Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyalo and Majority Leader Hon. Kisungi Wa Katete. They were joined by County Assembly members Hon. Francis Mutuku and Hon. Elizabeth Kawembe, all of whom voiced their strong support for the establishment of the new campus.

MAKUENI SET TO REVOLUTIONIZE WOMEN’S HEALTH WITH CUTTING-EDGE LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY.

Makueni County is set to collaborate with the Okoa Mama na Mtoto Initiative (OMMI) and Women in Development to enhance maternal, newborn, and child health services across the County.

This partnership comes amid rising neo-natal mortality rates in Makueni, currently standing at 26 % of deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that underscores the urgent need for improved healthcare interventions.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Monday hosted officials from Women in Development Initiative, FIGO, (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) and the Centre for Reproductive Health, where discussions centered on eliminating preventable maternal deaths, reducing neonatal and child mortality, and addressing adolescent pregnancies.

According to Prof. Beatrice Kihara, the lead champion of the Okoa Mama na Mtoto Initiative, at least 90% of pregnant women should attend a minimum of four antenatal care (ANC) visits, while 90% of births should be assisted by skilled healthcare professionals.

Further, she emphasized that 80% of mothers and newborns require early postnatal and essential newborn care for optimal health outcomes.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr , an advocate for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), stressed the importance of nutrition for expectant mothers and infants.

The new partnership is expected to strengthen healthcare systems and improve the well-being of mothers and children across Makueni.

Makueni set to reap big from proposed digital media city project at Konza technopolis

Makueni county, and especially the youth, is set to reap big from aproposed Konza Digital Media City (DMC) to be established at the Konza Technopolis.

The media city will be modelled after the Sangam Digital Media City in Seoul and other similar cities in Korea.

According to Jaehoon Lee, a lead pre-feasibility research consultant of the proposed project and lecturer at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea, the Digital Media City Project will mainly incorporate gaming, animation, filming, photography and entertainment centres as one of the sectors under the Knowledge Economy and Innovation pillar of Konza Technopolis Project.

Lee is leading a team of Korean researchers and ICT experts in a six month feasibility study of the proposed project and subsequently development of a Masterplan and Implementation of the Digital Media City.

On Wednesday, the Korean delegation held a consultative forum at Makueni’s Nairobi Liaison office with governor Kivutha Kibwana and KotDA Chief Executive Officer John Tanui to agree on how to partner through information and logistics sharing during the feasibility and implementation of the project.

Tanui said the Konza Digital Media City (K-DMC) is proposed to provide an excellent digital media and entertainment ecosystem for research, training, propagation of new technologies, innovation and production of content with the African themes and perspectives for the global markets. 

He said the proposed project will leverage on a robust smart city infrastructure to attract leading global investors in the sector, thereby creating employment and boosting the national economy.

K-DMC project objectives

When complete, the project is expected to create over 50,000 direct jobs to the youth, with Makueni taking up a substantial chunk of these offers.

The project is proposed to host among other segments of the industry:

World class film and music production studios; Production studios for Photography, Advertisements, Cinema and TV Industry; Animation and Computer gaming industries; A film/multi-media campus; Theme Parks
; Specialized photography and filming facilities; Modern sound production studios and film labs
; Sound design studios and color correction facilities.

Governor Kibwana said his administration will work closely with the implementers of this project for the benefit of the Makueni youth. 

Kibwana also pledged to lobby his colleague governors Charity Ngilu, Alfred Mutua and Joseph Ole Lenku to take key roles so the region can benefit from this project under the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) framework.

Eng. Tanui has said the  Media City project has the potential to go into the pipeline for projects with funding consideration by Korea Exim Bank

Makueni set to partner with the National Government on youth and women empowerment

The Government of Makueni County is set to partner with the National government through the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs on initiatives geared towards empowering the youth and women in the county.

This was agreed after Governor Kivutha Kibwana and his cabinet on Friday held lengthy discussions with Chief Administrative Secretary for the state ministry, Rachael Shebesh on behalf of her Cabinet secretary Margaret Kobia and identified a number of possible initiatives and programs to partner on.

Shebesh, while lauding Makueni for its outstanding performance in various areas expressed her interest specifically on partnership that impacts the lives of young people citing low uptake of the Youth Enterprise Fund in the county.

“I am interested in seeing that we touch the lives of our young people through the youth fund. It will be a win-win situation for both governments. We have the capacity to fund to even  a tune of Sh 10 million in a month to the youths through the fund,” Shebesh said.

Governor Kibwana said that his government will be more proactive in creating awareness to women and youth on the opportunities available for their empowerment including the funds adding that signing of a Memorandum of Understanding will be ripe after areas of priorities are refined by the two teams.

He Said: “We want to be very active in reaching out to our youth and women so that we increase the uptake of the youth and women funds in the County. Once the two teams on the ground refine on the areas of priority, then we will be ready to sign an MoU.”

Later in the day, CAS Shebesh together with Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau issued Women Enterprise Fund cheques worth Sh 2.9 million to 100 women at Wote.

MAKUENI SET TO HOST INAUGURAL COMMUNITY RUN

The Local Organizing Committee for Ndukuma Dam Community Run on Thursday toured the dam area for route mapping as the clock ticks towards July 14th, when the event will be held. The team was led by County Director of Sports Ambrose Kisoi

The inaugural Community run aims to celebrate, nurture and develop local talent while promoting community awareness and participation in climate change resilience building.

The run will feature four races:

15kms ➖Elite Race

10kms ➖Community Race

5kms ➖Corporate Race

3kms ➖Kids Race and Fun Run

MAKUENI SET TO ESTABLISH MOBILITY DEVICES FITTING CENTRE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOPE INTERNATIONAL

Makueni is set to establish a wheelchair and other mobility devices fitting and modification centre in Wote town to address the mobility challenges of People with Disabilities (PWDs).

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has said Hope Mobility Kenya, which has a 5-year working partnership with the Government of Makueni County, will offer the technical support needed to establish this centre as well as train identified persons on wheelchair modification.

Hope Mobility founder Michael Panther who toured Makueni for issuance of 400 wheelchairs said this centre will be key in addressing the diverse disability needs. On many occasions, people with mobility challenges have been issued the wrong chairs in relation to their condition, thus endangering their health.

Governor Mutula says this centre will be enhanced to become a one-stop point for all disability issues ranging from vocational training, assessment, fitting and capacity building.

On Thursday, Makueni and Hope Mobility concluded a 3-day fitting and issuance of 400 wheelchairs.