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MAKUENI TRADERS DRIVE INNOVATION AT EAST AFRICA MSMES EXPO

Makueni traders are showcasing their innovations at the 25th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Trade Fair taking place at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi.

The event, organized by Kenya’s Micro and Small Enterprises Authority (MSEA) under the State Department for MSMEs, brings together exhibitors from across the region to promote trade, skills exchange and market linkages.

With shifting and unpredictable climate patterns affecting farming output in Makueni, the Department of Trade, Marketing and Industry is championing value addition as a key pathway for resilience and market growth—turning local produce into competitive, high-value products.

One standout exhibitor is Elizabeth Mulika a young agripreneur from Mbumbuni and founder of Lisa Farmer Service Center.

Her enterprise promotes Nyota beans—a high-nutrition, drought-tolerant variety. Through training, access to quality seeds and value-added products such as pre-cooked beans, bean flour and Nyota bean snacks, Elizabeth is empowering smallholder farmers to earn more while improving household nutrition.

Nyota beans are rich in iron and zinc, essential in strengthening immunity and supporting healthy growth.

Makueni’s participation reflects Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s vision of an economically empowered, innovation-driven county.

MAKUENI, TRADEMARK AFRICA RALLY MANGO OFFTAKERS FOR A FAIRER, STRONGER MARKET

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, in partnership with Trademark Africa, on Tuesday brought together mango offtakers for a strategic dialogue on building a more efficient and accountable market.

The forum sensitized agents on their role in shaping market behaviour, deepened their understanding of Horticultural Crop Directorate – HCD(AFA) and County Government mandates, and opened space to unpack challenges and fresh opportunities in the agency business.

While attending the forum, Agriculture Chief Officer Dr. Victoria Kyalo asked offtakers to uphold integrity and strengthen linkages that ensure farmers receive fair value for their produce.

During the forum, East Africa Market Development Associates CEO Eunice Ngina also highlighted the need for a win-win market model where both farmers and buyers grow through predictable standards, trust and better coordination.

The meeting now paves the way for an upcoming joint forum between farmers and offtakers to harmonize cost structures, curb post-harvest losses and uplift Makueni’s mango sector.

Makueni Tourism Circuit Launched.

As a way of ensuring Makueni County becomes a major tourist destination centre, the County on Wednesday launched Makueni Tourism Circuit.
The County is an impressive tourist destination that rewards travelers with the utmost safari experiences in not only wilderness but also the unique cultures of the Angulia people (a sub-tribe of the Akamba people), caves, Chyullu hills, Masamukye hot springs, Makongo viewpoint, among other wonders.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr during the launch said that the County had all the required infrastructures such as Standard Gauge Railway, the upcoming Makindu airstrip, and the Mombasa Nairobi highway that opens the region to the outside world.
Wanderlust Diaries Ltd
Ministry of Tourism And Wildlife – Kenya
Tour Operators Society Of Kenya – TOSK

MAKUENI TOURISM BOOTH TAKES CENTER STAGE AT MAGICAL KENYA EXPO.

Makueni County is participating in this year’s MagicalKenya Travel Expo, which kicked off on Wednesday in Nairobi.

Makueni’s booth has garnered significant attention, with visitors eager to learn more about the county’s unique tourist destinations, the scenic views, vibrant Akamba culture and available travel packages.

The exhibition was launched by President William Samoei Ruto and has drawn over 300 exhibitors, 160 buyers and more than 70 global media outlets, and seeks to offer a prime platform for the country to showcase its rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism offerings.

The theme of the 3-day expo is “Explore, Connect, Celebrate,” and highlights Makueni’s efforts to boost tourism and promote local attractions.

MAKUENI TOPS NATIONALLY IN FIRE AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

Makueni county fire and rescue brigade has been feted top nationally beating other Counties, parastatals among other entities.

The team under the Directorate of Special Programmes and Emergency services braised stiff competition from 22 counties and big organizations such as Kenya Airports Authority, and G4S, among others to emerge top while Isiolo ranked second and Kenya Airport Authority third respectively.

The concluded Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) competition was held at Kenya airport Authority Training School, Nairobi.

The county also produced the best Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Erick Muli, a paramedic based in Matiliku Sub County Hospital.

Muli beat 10 other EMT paramedics for institutions such as Red Cross, Avenue Health rescue, Komarock modern hospital, Mary hill, and Bristol Park among others.

The symposium themed, “Towards growing effective and efficient emergency rescue and response teams 2022” covered fire service leadership, community fire safety, tactical firefighting, emergency medical service, and fire engine operation where the Makueni team thrived in showcasing their prowess.

The symposium attracted over 300 fire emergency and rescue practitioners, the Kenya Council of Emergency Medical Technicians, the Chief fire mission, and other partners.

The competition was organized in partnership between the Africa Fire Mission, Polish Center for International Aid, Kenya Medical Care Technician (KMCT), and Kenya National Fire Brigade Association (KENFIBA).

According to the County Chief Fire Officer Urbanus Kioko Kyalo, Makueni has had intensive training by the Polish Center for International Aid on fire emergency rescue through an MOU signed between the organization and Makueni in 2020.

 

 

Through the MOU, the Polish Center for International Aid has donated state-of-the-art firefighting equipment, a road traffic accident vehicle as well as the establishment of a fire fighting station at Makindu along Mombasa Nairobi highway.

 

Mr. Kyalo noted that the Makueni fire and rescue brigade was awarded a trophy, a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitating Monitor to aid in emergency medical services, two complete sets of trauma bags, and cash prizes.

“In the past 4 years we have been able to respond and attend to 198 fire incidents and also road traffic accidents mostly along the Mombasa Nairobi highway involving vehicles ferrying petroleum products,” said Mr. Kyalo.

The team has also rescued a number of newborn babies thrown into deep pit latrines.

The team had time with the Governor during a firefighting drill within the County headquarters with the Governor maintaining that the team needed more resources to enable them to respond to various disasters. 

“This is a commendable job done by our team, we must enhance our disaster response preparedness to avoid loss of lives and property,” he said.

 

MAKUENI TOPS NATIONAL RANKINGS IN GENDER AND DISABILITY INCLUSION.

Makueni County has once again been named the top-performing county in Gender and Disability Mainstreaming for 2025, cementing its reputation as a leader in inclusive and equitable development.

The award, received by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili during a gala dinner held on Thursday evening in Nairobi, recognises institutions that deliberately integrate gender equality and disability inclusion into planning, service delivery and decision-making processes to ensure no one is left behind.

In her keynote address, Mulili said the recognition reflects Makueni’s unwavering commitment to building a society where inclusion is not an afterthought but a foundation for sustainable development.

She noted that the county has prioritised deliberate interventions that empower women, youth and persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in economic, social and governance processes.

Gender and Disability Directorate Council Executive Director Dr Richard Nasong’o commended the Government of Kenya for making notable progress in policy development and legislation aimed at safeguarding the rights of women and persons with disabilities.

Also in attendance was the County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Youth, Children, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni.

MAKUENI TO SHOWCASE CLIMATE-SMART INNOVATIONS.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr today met with a technical team to review preparations for the Timbuktoo Green Future Hackathon, where Makueni is one of five pilot counties selected to showcase climate-smart innovations. The October 2025 event, led by Konza Technopolis, UNDP, and partners, seeks to empower youth-driven solutions to climate change.

Launched in December 2024 by President William Ruto, the Timbuktoo GreenTech Hub aims to support 10,000 African startups over the next decade, focusing on renewable energy, climate adaptation, and waste management. Makueni has formed a multi-sectoral team to coordinate participation.

Governor Kilonzo said the initiative will position Makueni as a hub for green innovation, with plans to mobilize startups, identify climate challenges, and incubate winning solutions.

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.

MAKUENI TO ROLL OUT LIVESTOCK INSURANCE PROJECT

The Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development in Makueni County on Thursday held a successful stakeholder engagement forum on the roll-out of a livestock insurance project dubbed DRIVE (Derisking, Inclusion, and Value Enhancement of Pastoral Economies) project.

This project aims to sensitize livestock farmers in the county’s dry areas about the importance of livestock insurance, which supports sustaining livestock during droughts by providing feeds and water.

50 community mobilizers, primarily youth farmers, have been selected to register livestock farmers for insurance and educate them on marketing strategies.

County Executive Committee Member Joyce Mutua said the program, in partnership with the World Bank, reflects the County Government’s commitment to support livestock farmers for sustainable and optimum livestock production.

Makueni to Roll out Countywide Mass Livestock Vaccination program

The County Government of Makueni through the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development is set to roll out a mass vaccination program in March, targeting at least 200,000 livestock across the county.
The livestock diseases targeted for vaccination include foot and mouth disease, Lumpy skin disease in cattle while sheep and goats will be vaccinated for contagious pneumonia and goat plague
Currently, the department has prioritized vaccination of dairy cows due to their vulnerability ahead of the mass vaccination.
According to Agriculture CEC Joyce Mutua, the exercise is being implemented in partnership with Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society Limited and aims at increasing household incomes of dairy farmers in Makueni through reduction of livestock disease outbreaks.
The Cooperative is facilitating the aggregation of animals at a central point for vaccination as well link the vaccinators to farmers who prefer vaccination of the animals in their own crushes and homes.
On its part, the county government is conducting farmer sensitization on livestock disease control and other veterinary matters, and coordinating the procurement, collection, storage and delivery of livestock vaccines
Mutua, however, adds that the services will be accessed at a subsidized fee of Sh. 50. Per animal.