News

MAKUENI TARGETS STRONGER MANGO MARKETS AHEAD OF 2025 PEAK SEASON

With Kenya producing about 650,000 metric tonnes of mangoes annually, Makueni continues to stand out with an estimated 183,891 metric tonnes harvested in the 2024 season—affirming its position as one of the country’s leading mango hubs.

To strengthen this key sector, the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development partnered with Trademark Africa (TMA)—an EU-funded agency that supports fair trade and improved market access—and convened a two-day forum bringing together farmers, marketing agents and exporters.

The meeting aimed to streamline fair pricing across all levels of the mango value chain, link farmers with credible buyers, and organise producers by region to ease bulk collection and improve market coordination.

Speaking during the Thursday session, Agriculture CECM Liz Muli urged farmers to follow proper mango handling practices, noting that good post-harvest care is essential for meeting export standards.

With improved mango handling, stronger market linkages and fair pricing structures, farmers will be positioned to reap meaningful benefits from their orchards.

The Makueni’s sweet mango output includes 30.9 million kgs for farm consumption, 76.4 million kgs for urban markets, and 5.5 million kgs for export, reflecting its growing economic potential.

The attendance Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza and Dr. Victoria Kyallo underscored the county’s commitment—driven by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr‘s vision—to advancing economic empowerment and improving household incomes across Makueni.

Makueni, Tangaza University partner to steer Development

Makueni has enlisted Tangaza University College, a constituent of Catholic University of East Africa as a lead research and technical capacity building institute for its development programs and projects.

In the five-year deal signed Tuesday by Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Tangaza University College interim principal Tom Kearny, TUC will carry out research on various areas as agreed by the parties, and the research outcome will serve to facilitate informed decision making by the county government.

Essentially, the county government will identify key economic stimulus projects such as setting up of an abattoir, a leather processing project, a cotton ginnery or a honey processing factory site. Tangaza will then tour these sites and help the county in clearly defining functional business models for the sustainability of these projects.

Other areas of cooperation as per the deal include:

Building the capacity of individuals under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO);

Business and Entrepreneurship training; Civic and Development Education Training; Community capacity building for sustainable development; Servant Leadership and Transformation Managerial Training.

Governor Kibwana said the motivation behind this agreement is to improve service delivery by training people especially staff to implement development projects and programs focussing on people and to be facilitators of development as opposed to being ‘bosses’.

MAKUENI SURGICAL CAMP ATTRACTS PATIENTS FROM 6 OTHER COUNTIES.

The ongoing surgical camp at Makueni County Referral Hospital has drawn patients from across the country, including Nairobi, Kajiado, Meru, Kiambu, Kitui, and Machakos counties.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr who witnessed the surgeries reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding medical outreach programs, vowing to bring more initiatives like this to Makueni in order to alleviate the burden of hospital bills for residents.He said this will go along way in promoting the county as a medical tourism destination.

The camp, organized by the Department of Health Services and the Surgical Society of Kenya, includes a team of specialists from Tanzania, members of the Rotary Club of Nairobi, and other key partners.

Over 100 patients are expected to undergo surgeries by the end of the week.

Prof. Paul Odula, President of the Surgical Society of Kenya, shared that the team has treated a variety of conditions, including goiters, hernias, cataracts, hearing impairments, and prostate issues.

Makueni sub-county development Tour.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday accompanied by Lucy Mulili (Deputy Governor), Dan Maanzo (Senator), Doughlas Mbilu (Speaker), various MCAs during his day long development tour of Makueni sub-county visited ongoing medical camp at Kanthuni Market.

The camp has been offering health education talk on:

1. Cervical cancer

2. Kidney failure

3. General health

Lab services and diabetes screening, dental services, malnutrition screening, dispensing of drugs , Counseling services among other services.

250 people were screened for various ailments.

MAKUENI STRIKING NURSES SIGN RETURN-TO-WORK DEAL

The Makueni County Government on Wednesday reached a breakthrough with striking nurses and midwives after signing a return-to-work formula, ending weeks of a nationwide industrial standoff that began on August 8.

The agreement was sealed at the County premises in Wote, with officials from the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM), County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Joyce Mutua, Public Service Board Chair Dr. Nicodemus Muteti and Health Services Chief Officer Dr. Harvey Mulei in attendance.

Addressing the press after the signing, Makueni KNUNM Chapter Chair Damiano Muriuki urged all striking nurses and midwives to report back to their stations immediately.

He appreciated governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr for converting all nurses who were on contract to permanent and pensionable terms.

Muriuki emphasized that the industrial action was driven by demands for improved welfare, including securing permanent and pensionable terms for nurses employed under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program.

On her part, CECM Mutua reassured the union of the county’s commitment, pledging to fast-track implementation of key resolutions agreed upon in the deal.

The return-to-work formula now sets the stage for normalcy in Makueni’s health facilities, restoring critical services that had been disrupted for nearly two weeks.

MAKUENI STRENGTHENS SENSORY THERAPY SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM.

Is your child overwhelmed by everyday sounds or textures? Have you encountered children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who struggle to cope with their surroundings?

Families in Makueni may now have a reason for hope, as public health facilities step up efforts to support children facing sensory processing challenges through strengthened rehabilitation services.

Sensory processing, how the brain receives, organizes, and responds to information from the senses, plays a critical role in a child’s development.

When this process is disrupted, it can affect behavior, learning, and daily functioning. Recognizing this, the Makueni County Department of Health Services has intensified interventions within its rehabilitation units to better support affected children.

In a significant boost to these efforts, the department on Friday partnered with Kenyatta National Hospital to conduct a comprehensive training session for county therapists. The session focused on sensory integration techniques as well as the proper installation and maintenance of specialized therapeutic equipment.

The training forms part of a broader strategy to promote evidence-based practice among healthcare providers, ensuring that children receive effective, safe, and consistent care across county facilities.

According to Mikie Baron, a clinical Occupational Therapist and a brand ambassador at Kenyatta National Hospital, sensory interventions in occupational therapy involve carefully designed activities that help individuals, especially children process sensory information more efficiently.

This, in turn, improves emotional regulation, concentration, and overall daily functioning.

During the sensitization forum, stakeholders identified the establishment of a sensory gym as a top priority for county health facilities.

The proposed facility would provide a safe and structured environment for therapy, enabling individualized interventions and allowing children to explore sensory experiences in a controlled setting.

MAKUENI STRENGTHENS PUBLIC SERVICE THROUGH PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT TRAINING

The Makueni County Government is intensifying efforts to build a high-performing public service through a five-day Capacity Building Programme on Integrated Performance Management being conducted in partnership with GIZ.

The training, which began on June 8 and concludes on June 12, has brought together more than 120 county officers, including directors, performance management champions, productivity mainstreaming champions, managers of county agencies, and leaders of tertiary institutions.

The programme is aimed at enhancing skills in performance planning, target setting, service delivery monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

Speaking when she joined participants on Thursday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili underscored the importance of performance management, noting that it extends beyond contracts and targets.

She said effective performance management is anchored on personal responsibility, integrity, and a commitment to delivering quality services to the people of Makueni.

Mulili challenged county officers to embrace a results-oriented culture and recognize teams that consistently demonstrate excellence in service delivery.

She also commended GIZ for its continued partnership with the county government, saying the collaboration has significantly contributed to strengthening governance systems and enhancing institutional capacity within Makueni.

The capacity-building programme is expected to improve productivity, enhance accountability, and strengthen service delivery across county departments, ultimately contributing to more efficient and citizen-centered public services.

MAKUENI STRENGTHENS MANGO MARKET LINKAGES TO BOOST FARMER INCOMES

With an annual mango productionl estimated at over 200 million Kilograms, the Department of Agriculture is intensifying efforts to ensure farmers gain better returns from their produce.

On Friday, the Department of Agriculture hosted Ward Administrators from across the county to discuss practical approaches to improving mango offtake and market access.

During the forum, it emerged that the Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority (MCFDMA) has been allocated 860 metric tonnes for purchase this season, with more than 700 metric tonnes already off taken.

While attending the meeting, Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli emphasized the importance of organized farmer groups, noting that exporters and processors largely source mangoes through cooperatives.

Further, administrators were urged to mobilize farmers into joining cooperatives within their wards and actively link them to buyers.

The forum, attended by Governor’s Political Advisor Nzioki King’ola, Chief Officers Dr. Victoria Kyalo (Agriculture), Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani (Trade) and Japheth Kiminza (Livestock), and MCFDMA CEO Joseph Kioko, aimed at strengthening coordinated marketing to empower farmers and enhance household incomes.

MAKUENI UPSCALES NEONATAL CARE SERVICES WITH THE COMMISSIONING OF A MODERN NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

In a major stride toward reducing neonatal deaths, the County Government of Makueni has unveiled a fully equipped Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Mother and Child Hospital, developed in partnership with ENI Kenya.

The modern facility is outfitted with cutting-edge medical equipment, including incubators, syringe pumps, blood pressure monitors, suction machines, photo boxes, pulse oximeters, radiant baby warmers, glucometers, stethoscopes, medication trolleys, baby cots, vital signs monitors, bilirubinometers, hygrometers, non-invasive ventilators, cardiac monitors, and CPAP machines.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., who presided over the launch, lauded the partnership as a key milestone in improving maternal and child health outcomes.

He noted that the newly installed technology would greatly enhance the quality and efficiency of newborn care, emphasizing that the healthcare team has already undergone specialized training fully sponsored by ENI Kenya on neonatal intensive care and use of the advanced machines.

ENI Kenya Managing Director Daniella Morra commended the collaboration with Makueni County, affirming the company’s commitment to supporting healthcare advancement in the region.

The establishment of the NICU marks a significant milestone in Makueni’s journey toward accessible, high-quality healthcare for all, reaffirming the county’s leadership in innovative public health initiatives.

MAKUENI STRENGTHENS EXPORT TIES TO GROW FARMER INCOMES

The County Government of Makueni has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding horticultural exports after a high-level review meeting with TradeMark Africa partners on the progress of the Makueni Export Supply Hub (ESH) programme.

The meeting, hosted by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, brought together key development partners, including Rodrigo Romero Van Cutsem of the EU Delegation to Kenya, Amarins Gerlofsma from the Embassy of the Netherlands, Anne Nalo of the British High Commission, and Joan Karanja from the Embassy of Sweden.

Mulili noted that since the partnership was signed in May 2025, the programme has delivered tangible results—training thousands of farmers on Good Agricultural Practices, strengthening pest control through fruit fly traps, operationalising packhouses, and improving direct linkages between farmer groups and export markets.

The delegation toured Greenfields Demonstration Farm and Iviani Farm in Muvau/Kikumini Ward, before visiting the Kibwezi Packhouse, where they witnessed progress in certification readiness, aggregation, value addition, and youth-led agribusinesses.

Mango, which accounts for 75 percent of the county’s fruit production and supports more than 71,000 farm families, remains the anchor of the export strategy, with improved standards compliance helping reduce post-harvest losses and raise farmer earnings.

The visit—attended by TradeMark Africa Country Director Lillian Mwai, CECM for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli, and Acting Chief Officer Felistus Mutune—reaffirmed the county’s focus on expanding Areas of Low Pest Prevalence, strengthening certification systems, and diversifying export markets.

Through these strategic partnerships, Makueni continues to position itself as a competitive horticultural export hub, delivering jobs, higher incomes, and inclusive growth in line with the development agenda of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.