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Makueni To Plant 1.2M Trees by 2026

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Tuesday led Makueni residents in celebrating International Day of Forests by spearheading restoration of Mbitini location tree cover. The area has for years witnessed formation of life-threatening gullies and flash floods following wanton destruction of tree cover.
County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Urban Planning, Environment and Climate Change Dr. Sonia Nzilani has said the county will plant and grow at least 1.2M trees by the year 2026 in partnership with Mastercard Foundation to restore environmentally degraded lands in Makueni.
As part of a long-term strategy towards environmental conservation, the department is training and establishing environmental clubs in at least 18 schools to promote environmental education and greening programs.
The event was staged at Masokani County Technical Training Institute in Mbitini ward, Makueni Sub-county.
 
 

MAKUENI TO PILOT THE NATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH AND BREEDING PROGRAM

Makueni County has been selected by the National Government to pioneer the National Animal Health and Breeding Program, Agriculture and Livestock Executive Committee Member Joyce Mutua has announced.

 The initiative, a nationwide effort, aims to bolster livestock health through extensive vaccination drives and the promotion of superior breeding practices.

Mutua said Makueni’s selection was due to its outstanding record in conducting annual vaccination campaigns, integral to its broader strategy of combating livestock diseases.

Once the breeding quality is enhanced, the county plans to shield livestock from adverse weather conditions by providing insurance coverage.

Mutua spoke on Thursday during the launch of this year’s livestock vaccination program in Nguu Masumba Ward, Kibwezi-West Sub-county.

This year’s vaccination schedule will focus on protecting cattle from Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, and Rift Valley fever, while goats will be safeguarded against Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia. Poultry will also receive vaccinations against NewCastle Disease.

The vaccination program will span 485 vaccination sites, targeting over 15,000 households, with the overarching objective of eradicating priority livestock diseases within the county.

Dr. Daniel Ksee, the County Veterinary Officer present at the event, reported that Makueni has successfully vaccinated more than 400,000 livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats, over the past three years.

Makueni to pilot Telemedicine health provision

By Onesmus Nzioka

Makueni has yet again made enviable strides in its healthcare provision by venturing into Telemedicine.

Telemedicine is the remote delivery of healthcare services, such as health assessments or consultations over the telecommunications infrastructure.

The program, launched at Thange Africa Brotherhood Church, Thange ward, is a brainchild of the ABC church through the National Council of Churches of Kenya in partnership with the government of Makueni County.

The program, dubbed Comprehensive Community Healthcare Initiative (CCHI), was unveiled by ABC Archbishop in charge of East Africa Timothy Ndambuki and governor Kivutha Kibwana on Wednesday.

The program entails a mobile internet linked multi diagnosis kit based at Thange and doctors based at the Makueni County Referral Hospital, who are linked into the system through installed software on their side.

The system is both web and android based such that enlisted doctors will get alerts of booked cases from the remote health centre on their mobile phones as per their schedules of assigned duties.

Patients will walk into the Thange health facility, their diagnosis carried out by a resident nurse and the results relayed in real time to the doctors who will then analyze and prescribe the proper medication to be administered by the nurse at Thange.

For complicated cases, the system enlisted doctors will be able to seek further consultations from more qualified doctors across the globe on behalf of their patients.

Patients will also have a face-to-face consultation with the doctors, through teleconferencing, who will then direct the resident nurse(s) on what tests to carry out.

Governor Kibwana has directed the county health department to dedicate a unit for the telemedicine program on a 24-hour basis to make it work.

County Health Executive Andrew Mulwa has announced that all the county level 4 hospitals will be linked into the program so as to address a broad range of health services.

Makueni Launches Telemedicine

According to Archbishop Ndambuki, the program will be rolled out in the whole of Ukambani under the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) if it succeeds in Makueni.

The program is enabled by a digital communication network and applications provider registered in Kenya under the name DIGLOSO run by a US based Kenyan named John Musau.

Makueni has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the company for extensive roll out of the program.

MAKUENI TO PILOT COMPOUND SEMICONDUCTOR RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR HEALTH AND WATER SYSTEM.

Makueni County will pilot compound semiconductor–enabled renewable energy technology to power its health and water infrastructure, a move expected to cut electricity costs by up to 30 percent.

The plan announced Wednesday during a consultative meeting between county officials and the University of Nairobi (UoN), will be carried out under the Compound Semiconductor–Enabled Renewable Energy Systems for Powering Critical Buildings in Africa project being implemented by UoN’s Department of Physics.

Briefing Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., the UoN team led by Prof. Julius Mwabora said the technology delivers higher efficiency and lower operating costs than conventional systems.

Governor Mutula welcomed the initiative, noting it will transfer technical skills to county staff and significantly reduce power bills for facilities that run continuously

The governor added that Makueni has strong solar resources and already has an energy plan and enabling policies in place to support large-scale renewable energy deployment.

Makueni to Partner with Salvation ARMY in Climate Change Resilience Building

Makueni County has secured the support of the Salvation Army in Climate Change Resilience Building through a five-year project dubbed MSETO WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Resilience by the church.

The USD 2.5 Million project aims at ensuring Water, Sanitation hygiene (WASH) access in five counties; Makueni, Kitui, Machakos, Samburu and Isiolo counties.

The Project manager George Obondo says the project will also ensure Improved food and Economic security in the targeted communities; Improved WASH access in the communities and schools; Improved health and nutrition as well Climate Justice and Environmental Sustainability.

The project, which runs up to 2023, draws funding from among other partners: Sweden/Latvia, Australia, UK/Ireland, Switzerland, Hungary & Austria.

The MSETO Resilience-WASH and Food Security Project, launched today, Friday April 12, in Nairobi and graced by Deputy governor Adelina Mwau and ABC Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, is an improvement of a similar pilot project in Salvation Army schools in the said Counties.

According to Salvation Army Kenya East Territorial Commander, Commissioner Margaret Siamoya, the project has previously supported 20 schools in Makueni with four 16,000-litre water tanks each as well as building toilets of World Health Organization standards.

DG Adelina Mwau termed the partnership a noble cause largely focusing on preparing and building the capacity of communities to enable them absorb, adapt and transform their lives in the face of complexities and uncertainties brought about by the impacts of climate change.

Makueni to Partner with GIZ in Green Energy Development

The Government of Makueni County is set to partner with GIZ in green energy development as it implements its 2018-2022 County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). The partnership will involve exploration of conservation measures and renewable energy in order to reduce defforestation especially that which is linked to charcoal burning. A detailed partnership plan was discussed today when the Deputy Governor, H.E. Adelina Mwau, hosted representatives from GIZ in her office. In the plan GIZ will train women and the youth at the ward level on green energy development.
Both partners will develop the green energy sector in the County in order to stimulate development and contribute to the well-being of the society. Makueni schools and hospitals among other institutions will be encouraged to shun traditional cooking methods that use charcoal and firewood and embrace green energy in cooking and lighting. This will entail the use of solar lamps, Jiko Kisasa and solar water pumps among other products.
‘By training the youth,  women and persons with disability who will later sell the green energy products to the community, we will have created an income to them’, affirmed H.E. Adelina Mwau as she reflected on the employment opportunities and immense job creation potential the partnership has for the youth and unemployed. It is envisaged that the partnership in green energy development will address climate change and will lead to an increase in the forest cover in the County and contribute to meeting the national goal for 10% forest cover.
  • January 26, 2018 in News

MAKUENI TO PARTNER WITH CIM TO BOOST FARMER-LED IRRIGATION IN MAKUENI

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Thursday engaged in a productive discussion with Bishop Dr. Titus Masika of Christian Impact Mission (CIM) to explore collaboration on a farmer-led irrigation initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and climate resilience.

CIM, a faith-based development agency, focuses on creating community transformation models and training tools, with a strong emphasis on building resilience against climate change and other environmental challenges.

In partnership with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), CIM is set to roll out an irrigation project in Marwa, Kiima Kiu/Kalanzoni ward.

The initiative will involve the excavation of 200 farm ponds, each with a minimum capacity of 250m³, targeting a total of 552 hectares. The project is expected to harvest at least 37,500m³ of water per watershed, ensuring sustainable water supply for irrigation.

Once completed, farmers will actively participate by shaping, fencing and dedicating at least one acre each for irrigation.

This piloting initiative is a step geared towards strengthening food security, promoting water conservation, and enhancing climate adaptation for vulnerable communities in the region.

The meeting was also attended by CECM for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, Joyce Mutua, as well as Livestock Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza and other county officials.

This collaboration highlights the governor’s commitment to innovative, sustainable agriculture solutions that empower farmers and secure livelihoods in the face of climate change.

MAKUENI TO HOST THE FIRST EVER UNIFIED SPORTS TOURNAMENT

Makueni is set to host the first ever Unified Sports tournament in Africa.

The tournament to be staged in Wote town, Makueni on 9th and 10th March, 2024 features 12 female football teams drawn from across the county.

Unified sports is a program that comprise a mix of an equal number of athletes with intellectual disabilities and those without intellectual disabilities on the same team for training and competition

The unified sports program is jointly sponsored by sport apparel manufacturer, Nike, through Special Olympics Kenya and aims at promoting inclusivity, foster understanding and support for persons with intellectual disabilities within the community.

The sport is also meant to encourage participation of female athletes specially with intellectual disabilities in sports.

The partnership between Makueni County and Nike was agreed upon in Berlin, Germany, during the 2023 Special Olympic games where Makueni largely represented the country and won a huge tally of medals.

MAKUENI TO HOST NATIONAL WORLD CONTRACEPTIVE DAY CELEBRATIONS

Makueni County will on Friday play host to the national celebrations of World Contraceptive Day at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote.

The event, themed “A Choice for All: Agency, Intention and Access,” provides a platform to showcase progress, share best practices, and reflect on the gaps that remain in access and use of contraceptives across the country.

Makueni stands out as a model county, having surpassed Kenya’s average modern contraceptive prevalence rate recording an impressive 64 percent uptake compared to the national figure of 57 percent.

This success is attributed to high postpartum family planning adoption through initiatives like the Anita Mbinya Foundation and Jhpiego, innovative community engagement, strong political commitment, and sustainable investment , including the establishment of a dedicated family planning budget line.

The celebration is expected to attract senior Ministry of Health officials alongside Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., among other dignitaries.

MAKUENI TO HOST NATIONAL KENYA SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE

Makueni has been selected to host a new Kenya School of Agriculture campus, which will offer training in agriculture-related courses, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.has  announced.

Governor Mutula revealed that his administration has already allocated land for the construction of the school.

 The governor has also secured a hot water treatment facility from the National Government to enhance the export market for mangoes in Makueni.

Governor Mutula made these announcements on Wednesday during a meeting with the staff of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development.

Governor Mutula praised the dedication and commitment of the agriculture staff in providing essential extension services to farmers, which are crucial for sustained agriculture and food security in the county. 

He urged the officers to go above and beyond their duties to make a significant impact on the farmers of Makueni.

The staff meeting was organized by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua and agriculture and Livestock Chief Officers Dr Victoria Kyallo and Japheth Kiminza.

The Governor was accompanied by Transport Executive Eng. Sebastian Kyoni and Devolution Executive Japheth Mang’oka.