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MAKUENI SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH ANGLICAN CHURCH AGRO-ENTERPRISE FOR FARMER TRAINING.

June 14, 2024

The County Steering Committee for the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), led by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua, toured the Anglican Church of Kenya Resort Salama agro-enterprise on Friday to explore potential collaboration opportunities.

The enterprise specializes in apiculture (beekeeping), poultry, horticulture, and pig farming, serving as the primary foodstuff supplier for the Resort. 

A key area identified for collaboration is the training of farmers on best agricultural practices to enhance profitability among small-scale farmers in the county.

“The Anglican Church of Kenya Resort Salama agro-enterprise offers a unique model of diversified farming that can greatly benefit our local farmers,” Mutua stated. 

By partnering with them, the county aims to provide farmers with the necessary skills and knowledge to enhance their productivity and profitability.

Makueni Secures Ksh. 168 Million from World Bank

Makueni County has secured a Ksh168 million grant from the World Bank to advance its devolution development agenda.

The grant, disbursed through the national ministry of Devolution, under the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP) is meant for capital investments and building capacities for improved devolved service delivery.

Makueni is among 13 counties that have received a total of Sh 1.9 Billion under the programme.

The 13 were competitively selected from the 47 counties upon achievement of respective disbursement linked parameters key among them audited accounts.

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa who presented cheques to the qualifying governors urged the county chiefs to channel the funds to the BIG FOUR agenda.

Deputy governor Adelina Mwau has said the funds will be channeled towards key sectors of the county economy such as Water, Agricultural value chain addition and health promotion

Makueni county executive for Finance and Social Economic planning Mary Kimanzi said the cabinet would sit to decide on the projects to invest the grant in, and which will positively impact on the lives of Makueni residents.

The event was held at the Laico Regency hotel in Nairobi.

Makueni Secures Funding to fight Malnutrition

Makueni has secured a Sh 30 million funding from Nutrition International to scale up efforts towards elimination of malnutrition in the next three years.

The grant is complimentary to the county’s Sh 36 million for the same cause, and which is meant to actualize the implementation of the County Nutrition Action Plan (CNAP) unveiled late 2019.

The Makueni CNAP targets the reduction of the prevalence of stunting among children under five years by 40%, childhood wasting to less than 5%, childhood underweight to less than 10%, and reduce malnutrition among older children and adolescent by 15%.

According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey 2014, the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight in Makueni County was 25.1%, 2.1% and 10.2% respectively.

The funding agreement was signed today in Nairobi by the executive for Finance Mary Kimanzi and executive for Health Services Dr. Andrew Mulwa for the county government and witnessed by governor Kivutha Kibwana, deputy governor Adelina Mwau and the Nutrition International President Joel Spicer.

The county has also received 30,000 Euros (Sh 3.2 million) funding from Hivos East Africa to finance the Makueni Mango and indigenous food festival scheduled for this month at the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant, Kalamba.

The overall objective of the food festival is to promote mango production and consumption of indigenous food in Makueni, governor Kibwana has said.

The festival seeks to stimulate the rediscovery of the value of the Mango and indigenous foods through showcasing the rich gastronomic heritage of the Akamba and marketing the County as a Mango County and presenting the opportunities in the Mango value chain.

  • February 6, 2020 in News

MAKUENI SEALS DEAL WITH KEVEVAPI TO STRENGTHEN LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH

The Makueni County Government has signed a strategic partnership with the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) in a move set to revolutionize livestock health and boost the local economy.

The collaboration seeks to improve vaccine uptake in the county, which currently stands at a low 30 percent, with an ambitious target of reaching 70 percent. Through this deal, farmers will benefit from a more reliable, timely, and efficient supply of vaccines.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the fight against devastating livestock diseases, including Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), Caprine Pleuropneumonia, Rabies, Brucellosis, and Rift Valley Fever.

Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili hailed the partnership as a major boost to livestock farming, which contributes 20 percent to Makueni’s GDP and sustains 65 percent of households.

Her remarks were echoed by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli, who reaffirmed the county’s pledge to fully support the initiative and ensure long-term success.

MAKUENI ROLLS OUT INVESTMENTS IN FIVE KEY AGRICULTURE VALUE CHAINS.

The Government of Makueni County through National Agricultural Value Chain Development Program (NAVCDP) is spearheading massive investment in five key agricultural value chains namely: Bee keeping, dairy, horticulture (tomato farming), mango production and poultry farming.

The overarching goal of this program according to Livestock and Fisheries Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza is to commercialize 50℅ of the agricultural activities in those value chains, promote agri-business and create job opportunities in the rural economy.

Speaking during a validation forum of the program at Tawa in Kisau/Kiteta ward, Kiminza encouraged farmers to join these value chains through which the government will provide seed capital, farm chemicals, extension services and marketing of their produce. These services will be provided through SACCOs and Cooperatives.

MAKUENI ROLLS OUT BORESHA MACHO PROJECT TO BOOST EYE HEALTH SERVICES

Deputy governor Lucy Mulili on Thursday launched the Boresha Macho Project at Kathonzweni Health Centre, an eye health initiative aimed at improving access to affordable and quality refractive error services across the county.

Through the programme, more than 100,000 residents are set to undergo eye screening, with over 12,000 spectacles expected to be distributed spectacles, significantly contributing to Kenya’s goal of increasing access to refractive error services from the current 6.7 percent to 40 percent.

The county government is implementing the project in collaboration with Sight Savers and the Kenya Society for the Blind.

Currently, eye care services are available at the Makueni County Referral Hospital, Makindu Sub-County Hospital, and satellite clinics in Mbooni, Kibwezi, and Sultan Hamud.

The initiative forms part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s broader agenda to strengthen primary healthcare and bring essential medical services closer to the people.

As part of the partnership, Sight Savers will equip the county with modern eye care technology, support community outreaches, establish a state-of-the-art optical shop at the referral hospital, and train community health promoters to enhance awareness and early intervention.

MAKUENI ROLLS OUT A CAMPAIGN TO ELIMINATE RABIES.

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock has launched a campaign to completely eliminate rabies in Makueni. 

The campaign targets to vaccinate 40,000 dogs across 17 wards in the county.

The launch was officiated by Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Friday at Kyangoma in Mbooni Sub- County.

She was accompanied by Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua, Livestock Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza and Mbooni Ward Member of County Assembly Alexander Mulemba

MAKUENI RESIDENTS WORKING AND RESIDING IN MOMBASA ON FRIDAY EVENING GOT A CHANCE TO GIVE THEIR VALUABLE INSIGHTS ON THE COUNTY FISCAL STRATEGY PAPER 2024-25 DURING THE MOMBASA DIASPORA PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

Makueni residents working and residing in Mombasa on Friday evening got a chance to give their valuable insights on the County Fiscal Strategy Paper 2024-25 during the Mombasa diaspora public participation.

The participation, graced by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and Deputy Lucy Mulili, is crucial as it ensures that the budgeting process is transparent, inclusive, and reflective of the needs and priorities of the residents.The draft County Fiscal Strategy Paper can be accessed from our website vide: www.makueni.go.ke

MAKUENI RESIDENTS TURN OUT FOR BUDGET CONSULTATIONS

Residents from all 60 sub-wards in Makueni County on Wednesday gathered at designated venues to participate in public participation on the 2026/2027 financial year budget estimates and the County Fiscal Strategy Paper.

The forums, scheduled across February, are structured to capture views at multiple levels. Sub-ward meetings are set for 11th and 12th, ward consultations for 17th and 18th, while sessions targeting municipalities and the diaspora will take place on the 19th. A youth-focused virtual forum is planned for the 16th.

The engagements are designed to give citizens an opportunity to influence development planning by identifying priority projects aligned with local needs and livelihoods.

County Executive Committee Member for Finance, Damaris Kavoi, officially opened the exercise in Nziu Sub-ward before proceeding to Kiteta Sub-Ward, where she attended deliberations by residents.

Participants in Kiteta proposed several priority areas, including the acquisition of a dental chair and an incinerator for Tawa Sub-County Hospital, construction of ECDE classrooms, expansion of water projects, and support for farmers through provision of certified seeds.

Elsewhere, Chief Officers Felistus Mutune and Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi attended public participation forums at Kitundu and Kitise sub-wards, respectively.

Makueni residents in Mombasa officially unveil investment cooperative

A group of Makueni residents based in Mombasa has now unveiled an investment cooperative to pool resources and create wealth both in Makueni and Mombasa.

The cooperative is the first in the county and the country at large to be domesticated under the devolved system of government.

According to its chairperson Richard Kinovi, the overall goal of the cooperative named MDIMA, is to empower its members and citizens of Makueni socially, economically and create wealth for the county.

The 261- member outfit has so far bought shares worth over Sh 5 Million in the Ene Microfinance and is partnering with the county government of Makueni and other development partners in eradicating poverty, budget making process and projects implementation.

The group is also on the verge of securing a grant of USD 200,000 from USAID Kenya and East Africa to train young people in Makueni and mentor them on life skills in a bid to increase their employability levels.

The co-operative movement in the county has grown tremendously post devolution from 83 co-operatives to 224 as at June this year.

Governor Kivutha Kibwana who graced the launch at Changamwe, Mombasa, Saturday evening lauded the members for exemplary unity of purpose, terming the cooperative a model one in the county.

He urged members of the cooperative to take advantage of the county’s Tetheka fund and any other opportunity that will help them pool resources together for group and individual growth.