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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 SHOWCASES TOURISM AT MagicalKenya EXPO 2025

The Magical Kenya Expo is the country’s leading tourism trade fair, running from 1st to 3rd October at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi.

The event brings together tourism players to market Kenya as a top travel destination.

During this year’s Expo, Makueni County is showcasing its vibrant tourism sector with hoteliers, tour companies, service providers and creative wood sculptors participating.

The County Tourism Department has been keen on promoting local sites, supporting guides and uplifting hospitality businesses to attract more visitors.

This year’s expo, themed ‘Creating Business Opportunities Through Tourism’, provides a platform to unlock new markets and partnerships.

By participating, Makueni County showcases itself as an attractive destination for both local and international travelers, boosting its profile in the tourism sector.

The participation also aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr’s vision of empowering residents through economic growth driven by tourism.

MAKUENI SHOWCASES HERITAGE AT GLOBAL INVESTMENT FORUM

Makueni County Deputy Governor Makueni-H.E Lucy Mulili on Wednesday joined Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot Cheptumo for the official launch of the first International Investment Conference and Trade Fair at Thika Greens Golf Hotel.

The forum focused on preserving Kenya’s indigenous heritage while unlocking its economic value.

Makueni stood out, proudly showcasing Akamba culture; featuring the ancestral drink kaluvu, usuu wa ukia, kinaa kya mwee, nthùngi (traditional carrier bag), herbal remedies, and unique delicacies.

During the conference, Mulili also presented a symbolic gift to the CS and highlighted Makueni’s booth, rich in traditional medicines. The focus was on how natural assets can be commercialised, citing how India has leveraged in traditional medicine to contribute millions of dollars in the economy.

Key in the event was also the launch of the IKI BANK system to serve as a National repository of the assets led by MD National Museums of Kenya Prof. Mary Gikungu.

Also present was Dr. Evans Teracha – Coordinator Natural Products Industry, Prof. X N Iraki – UoN, ECM Nicholas Nzioka and Chief Officer Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani.

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 SHINES IN FAMILY PLANNING AS COUNTY RECORDS 64% MODERN CONTRACEPTIVE PREVELENCE RATE UPTAKE

Makueni County has been hailed as a model for family planning in Kenya, boasting a modern contraceptive prevalence rate of 64 percent against the National’s 57%.

The recognition came from the Ministry of Health and development partners during the national World Contraceptive Day celebrations held at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote on Friday.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Albert Ndwiga, the Ministry of Health’s Family Planning Program Manager, praised Makueni’s progressive strides, noting this as a key reason the county was chosen to host the national event.

He urged men to actively support their partners in family planning initiatives and challenged those who undermine the progress.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili highlighted milestones achieved, including integrating family planning into maternal health services, particularly in the immediate postpartum period, leading to reduced maternal deaths linked to unintended pregnancies.

She commended the role of community health promoters who champion family planning at the household level.

Mulili also called on the national government to strengthen data systems and enhance accountability to ensure evidence-based policies and equitable resource allocation.

MAKUENI SHINES AT NATIONAL STATISTICS CONFERENCE WITH GRASSROOTS DATA MODEL

Makueni County once again captured national attention on Tuesday after demonstrating an innovative data collection & utilization model that informs participatory planning and budgeting from the sub-ward level through to wards, sub-counties, and the county headquarters.

The model impressed delegates attending the 2025 National Statistics Conference in Nairobi.

Chief Officer for Socio-Planning, Budget and Revenue, Mutua Boniface, highlighted how the county statistical system has strengthened the county’s ability to gather and manage accurate data.

He addressed delegates as a panelist, among them Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata and permanent Secretary the State Department for Planning, Dr.Bonface Makhoha outlining how technology is transforming decision-making processes within counties.

Mutua emphasized the importance of integrating digital tools including automation and digitization in county processes.

Makueni has been recognized by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics as a model county in preparing annual County Stastical Abstracts (CSAs) as well as disaggregated data from the ward level upwards.

The two-day conference is themed “Leveraging Innovations in Data and Statistics to Promote a Just, Peaceful, Inclusive, and Prosperous Society for Africans.”

Makueni Shines as Kenya Music Festival Curtains Fall

The annual Kenya Music and Cultural Festival closed its curtains on Monday with a colourful gala performance, marking the end of a vibrant seven-day celebration of creativity.

Attended by Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism Chief Officer Dr Josyllyn Nzilani and the County Cultural Officers, the festival brought together cultural groups, choirs, soloists, film producers and exhibitors from across the country—each weaving their story into the national tapestry of art.

Makueni County stood tall, delivering stellar performances across multiple categories.

The Makueni County Choir scooped top positions in Class 442B with “How Beautiful Are Thy Feet”, Class 443D with an adaptation and arrangement, Class 441B, Class 441A and Class 442A.

In solo categories, Ruth Wambua popularly known as ‘Mama Mercy’ topped Class 105 for her captivating chant “Namukawa ni Aka” with Kee Botanical Gardens also securing position one in traditional medicine exhibition—its fourth consecutive win.

Other notable achievements included second positions for Justus Paul (Class 1312C), the County Informercial team (Class 301B), and the choir’s “All We Like Sheep.”

This year’s theme, “Threads of Culture, Weaves of Opportunity,” highlights how arts create not just beauty, but pathways for economic growth, talent development and cultural pride.

MAKUENI SETS THE PACE IN DIGITAL HEALTH AS KILIFI BENCHMARKS ON SMART INNOVATIONS

Makueni County has continued to cement its reputation as a leader in digital health innovation, after hosting a high-level delegation from Kilifi County for a benchmarking visit focused on transformative healthcare solutions.

The team, received by Ag. Director Promotive and Preventive Dr. Stephen Mwatha on Tuesday, undertook a cross-learning mission at the Makueni County Referral Hospital, with particular interest in the implementation of Proximie,a cutting-edge technology that enables real-time transmission of surgical procedures.

Through Proximie, Makueni has redefined service delivery by allowing specialists to guide operations remotely, enhancing efficiency, facilitating skills transfer, and ultimately improving patient outcomes. The innovation has positioned the county at the forefront of smart healthcare solutions in the country.

During the visit, the delegation also examined key interventions implemented by the county, notably the solarization of the referral hospital. The initiative has significantly improved the reliability of power supply for critical services such as oxygen production, while at the same time reducing operational costs.

In the Maternal and Child Health unit, the team explored a range of integrated services tailored to meet diverse patient needs. These included youth-friendly centres, gender-based violence response services, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programmes, and flexible care models designed to accommodate working patients.

The delegation further toured the maternity, newborn, and theatre units, where they observed a series of innovations shaping clinical care.

These included the use of Proximie in obstetric safe surgery, the adoption of kangaroo mother care for newborns, and the growing integration of digital solutions in routine medical practice.

The benchmarking mission brought together key stakeholders and partners, among them representatives from Safaricom Foundation, Council of Governors, Amref Health Africa, and the Proximie team.

The peer-to-peer engagement not only strengthened collaboration but also places the county as a trailblazer in digital health innovation. Amref Health Africa in KenyaCouncil of Governors-KenyaSafaricom FoundationKilifi County GovernmentGideon Maitha Mung’aro

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 SETS GROUND FOR STRATEGIC YOUTH PARTNERSHIP WITH PASGR RESEARCH ORGANIZATION

Makueni County has kicked off talks with the Partnership for African Social & Governance Research (PASGR) to strengthen capacity among young people and anchor youth programmes in evidence-based governance.

PASGR, a non-state organization operating in 26 African countries, builds youth resilience by aligning youth initiatives with evolving governance systems through policy formulation, impact measurement, and mentorship.

On Wednesday, County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Eng. Sebastian Kyoni led a delegation of youth officers in a meeting with senior PASGR officials at their Nairobi offices to forge a working partnership.

The county seeks to collaborate with PASGR in developing a comprehensive youth policy, a youth empowerment strategy, and integrating gender perspectives into food systems, gender-based education, and agribusiness, marking a decisive step toward a more informed and empowered generation in Makueni.