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WATER, DEVOLUTION CECS LEAD IN PROJECTS COMMISSIONING IN IVINGONI/NZAMBANI WARD

County Executive Committee Members John Kieti (Water) and Nicholas Nzioka (Devolution) on Monday led in commissioning of various development projects in Ivingoni/Nzambani ward meant to improve quality of life for residents.

The two commissioned, Kikwasuni ECDE, Kwa Maundu borehole, Kwa Kalekye borehole and the ward administrator’s office.

The boreholes are part of the Last Mile Water Connectivity program spearhead by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, meant to ensure no one walks more than 2 kms to the nearest water point.

The two county executive committee members were accompanied by Chief Officers Irene makau (Education), Nicholis Mutua(Gender) and area MCA Harrison mutie.

Water Committees to be Dissolved: Kisyula

Water Committees to be Dissolved

Water committees in Makueni County will be dissolved and new ones reconstituted to ensure efficiency in the management of the critical water sector in the county Water Executive Committee Member Robert Kisyula has said.

Mr Kisyula said that his department was keen to oversee an efficient water sector adding that supply of water to Makueni County residents is top priority issue in the county government.

“We are going to dissolve all the water committees in Makueni and reconstitute new ones. We have a very high target set in the water sector which we must meet,” the ECM said.

He was speaking in Mombasa where county officials met Secondary school head teachers during this year’s Kessha Conference for Makueni Chapter held at the Travellers Beach Resort.

Mr Kisyula urged secondary schools heads to partner with the county government to achieve the water agenda.

The ECM said that institutions should harvest rain water from roofs to make sure that all public and private institutions have sufficient potable water.

“If every school in Makueni had tanks to harvest the water that runs during rainy seasons, the shortage of water in schools and nearby communities would be a thing of the past,” the ECM said.

Rain water harvesting according to Mr Kisyula is one of the game changers in making another Makueni possible where every household has sufficient potable water for domestic use in order to stop the “ fetching water ideology” in the county.

“Since we were kids, we were taught that water is fetched. We wait for the rain to pour down for a whole night then the following morning we follow it to the rivers when it is already contaminated,” he explained.

He further added that every household in the county is capable of becoming food secure and economically empowered by adopting the “1 acre rule” initiative.

Makueni County has since the wake of devolution done several dams and sand dams as well as drilled boreholes and collaborated with various development partners through the Billion Dollar Business Alliance to ensure that all households have access to clean water.

He further challenged the heads to set good examples in the villages by installing at least two 100M3 water tanks in their homesteads, adding that it will ensure availability of potable water supply for domestic use for a whole year.

Kessha Makueni Chapter chairman Julius Mutwii who was the host said teachers are appreciating the support given by the county government including sponsorship of various teachers projects including scholarships to students.

“We are very happy with progress being made by our county. Infact the whole country is talking about Makueni.And they are doing so positively, ” said Mr Mutwii.

Other top government officials who graced the KESSHA conference included the deputy governor Adelina Mwau, county secretary Paul Wasanga, CEC, Roads, transport and energy, Engineer Sebastian Kyoni and CEC for Education and ICT, Dr. Naomi Makau.

Water chiller for the new juice line at MFPP

Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of a water chiller for the new juice line at Makueni Fruit Processing Plant (MFPP)

Tender Number: GMC/A/T/07/2018/2019

The Government of Makueni County invites interested and eligible bidders for the above tender. Interested firms may download the bid documents below.

Download the Tender Document for water chiller for the new juice line at Makueni Fruit Processing Plant

This bid is open to both local and international bidders.

The duly completed bids should be enclosed in plain sealed envelopes clearly marked with Tender Number and Tender Name and deposited in the tender box situated at the Makueni County Treasury headquarters offices (MAP) and be addressed to:

COUNTY SECRETARY
GOVERNMENT OF MAKUENI COUNTY
P.O. BOX 78-90300
MAKUENI Kenya

All tenders should be received on or before Wednesday 7th November,2018 (10.00AM)

Bids will be opened immediately thereafter in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at Makueni County Treasury headquarters offices (MAP)

The successful bidder will be selected in accordance with evaluation criteria and terms and conditions set out in the bidding documents.

For any additional information, please contact the County Secretary on email:

county.secretary@makueni.go.ke.

Download the Tender Document for water chiller for the new juice line at Makueni Fruit Processing Plant

Water chiller Advert

Water Agenda

The provision of water to our people continues to be the single most important challenge and opportunity for developing and transforming our communities. It is three years now since we launched the ‘Kutwiikanya Kiwu’ programme as a strategy for enhancing community and household water harvesting in our County.

At the community level we have enhanced water storage infrastructure through construction of 98 earth dams and 45 sand dams and weirs while at the household and institutional levels we have promoted roof catchment as well as drilling of boreholes and extension of water pipeline networks.

Currently, 19 more sand dams are under construction. We have drilled 87 boreholes and equipped 39 others. 9 more boreholes are currently being drilled. Out of these, 24 boreholes have been drilled using the drilling rig that we recently acquired. It is our priority to distribute the water in all our boreholes since we have the resources in the 2017/2018 budget.

Our people are now carrying out irrigation farming using the water from the earth dams and sand dams. Some earth dams are also stocked with fish.

300 women groups have benefited from water tanks through the ‘Nzangule ya Matangi’ programme. 300 more groups are set to benefit from water tanks. This programme is promoting water accessibility and micro-irrigation initiatives in the County. The Department of Youth, Gender, Sports and Social Services has also distributed water tanks to youth and women groups while the Department of Education and ICT has distributed water tanks to primary schools and the Department of Health Services to health facilities.

The County still remains water deficient even with these interventions. This explains our decision to allocate 1 Billion Kenya Shillings for water projects in the 2017/2018 financial year. We are partnering with the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) in mapping our water resources especially the location of sand dams and earth dams. A separate research on the capacity of our boreholes is currently being undertaken. This will lead to the development of a water policy and master plan.

Walking the Journey with Makueni Emerging Entrepreneurs at Makueni PWD Vocational and Training Center

The Kenya Small Business Development Centers (KSBDC) in partnership with Agricultural Sector Development Support Programme II (ASDSP II) is currently spearheading a sensitization Workshop for Makueni Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises on the existence of Kenya Small Business Development Centers (KSBDC) and services offered in the centers, with an aim of supporting, coaching and mentorship for sustained business growth.

KSBDC is a pilot program implemented by Strathmore University Business School (SBS) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with a vision of transferring best practices in business development and advisory services through training, consulting and policy research and market intelligence.

Makueni SBDC is located at the Makueni People with Disability Vocational Training Center Offices Off Wote Malivani road and is open for free services to emerging entrepreneurs.

For more information kindly contact 0724679289 or send an email to lwambua@strathmore.edu

Walking for mental health

#Power of Humanity walk has been launched in Wote, spearheaded by Kenya Red Cross Society under H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr , branch patron, with the aim of raising funds to address mental health issues.

The Governor affirms the government’s commitment to addressing mental health problems after emerging that an estimated 3000 adults in Makueni county had severe thoughts of suicide in the year 2020/2021/2022 while 700 made suicide plans and 500 attempted suicides.

VOLUNTARY HIV TESTING AND COUNSELING ON THE RISE

In recent times, Makueni County has witnessed an increase in the number of individuals voluntarily undergoing HIV testing and counseling, with many stepping forward to know their status and seek related healthcare services.

During the World AIDS Day commemoration held in Makindu on Monday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili outlined the county’s comprehensive plans and strategies to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic and mitigate its impact on the local population.

World AIDS Day, marked on December 1, honors lives lost to HIV/AIDS, celebrates survivors’ resilience, and calls for action to support those affected.

This year’s theme highlighted public education and united efforts to end HIV while tackling issues like new infections, unintended pregnancies, and gender-based violence.

Makueni County has intensified its HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment initiatives by establishing friendly clinics, deploying mobile health units, and conducting community outreach programs, significantly enhancing access to healthcare services.

Additionally, the county has rolled out targeted sensitization campaigns in colleges and among county employees to raise awareness and strengthen prevention efforts.

A poignant moment during the commemoration was the testimony of a 54-year-old HIV advocate who has lived with the virus for 28 years. His powerful story of resilience and advocacy serves as a source of inspiration for many.

After being abandoned by his family following his diagnosis in 1994, he overcame immense challenges and has since become a leading voice in HIV awareness, using his journey to empower and encourage others to seek support and embrace hope.

Visiting Ugandan delegation hail Kibwana for Makueni progress

A delegation of Uganda Members of National Assembly has hailed the Makueni devolved system of governance saying it has led to effective delivery of services to the citizens.

Cecilia Ogwal, who led the delegation on a 3-day benchmarking tour to Makueni observed that though Uganda has a devolved system, the public participation is not functional and resources are not devolved.

“We have read about Makueni and its success stories and that is why we chose to come. However, in Uganda, we have a devolved system up to the districts level but participation of people is not functional, and also the resources are not devolved,” she said.

Governor Prof Kibwana said that it was an honour that the members of the Ugandan Parliament chose to bench mark in the county to learn noting that counties have been learning from each other to enrich their work.

Governor Kibwana further explained to the delegates who paid him a courtesy call in his office on Wednesday, that his government is keen in actualizing article 1 of the 2010 constitution of Kenya which resulted to the institution of the peoples’ government in the county.

The governor also observed that the sovereignty of the people in the county had worked through the public participation model but noted that sometimes it is resisted by leaders who feel threatened by empowered citizens, adding that it requires a lot of transparency.

He said: “Here in Makueni, we believe in actualizing the constitution and that is why we instituted the peoples’ government to implement Article 1 though sometimes it resisted by some leaders. Despite the challenges, it has worked.”

Ogwal noted that the benchmarking tour was aimed at comprehending the devolved system structures and functions before making concrete recommendations to the government of Uganda.

Vibrant Music and Cultural Festival Sets the Stage for Makueni’s Finest

Wote Green Park came alive on the 9th and 10th of November 2023, as the heart of Makueni County hosted a two-day music and cultural extravaganza. The festival, not only a celebration of artistic expression but was a crucial platform for selecting the best teams to represent the county in the upcoming Kenya Music and Cultural Festival.

The park buzzed with energy as talented performers showcased traditional dances, melodious tunes, and captivating cultural displays. Spectators were treated to a mixture of vibrant costumes, rhythmic beats, and heartwarming performances that reflected the rich cultural tapestry of Makueni.

The festival served as a rigorous selection ground, with various teams competing for the honor of representing Makueni County in the prestigious Kenya Music and Cultural Festival at Wote Technical Training Institute from 1^st to 9^th December.

After two days of intense competition, the winners were crowned and celebrated. The triumphant teams were not only awarded with medals but also received certificates of merit, recognizing their exceptional talent and commitment to preserving and showcasing Makueni’s cultural heritage.

The County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Industry, Marketing, Culture and Tourism Eng. Peter Mumo expressed the Departmental delight at the high level of talent on display and emphasized the importance of such events in fostering cultural pride and unity within the community. The winning teams are now gearing up to represent Makueni County on the national stage, where they will compete with teams from across Kenya in the spirit of friendship and cultural exchange.