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MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY TO CAPACITY BUILD MSMES

The Government of Makueni County envisions to transform the livelihoods of her citizens by increasing their household incomes. The Department of Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism through the Directorate of Trade, Marketing and Industry, has partnered with Kenya Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to support in the growth and scalability of businesses in Kibwezi West and East Sub counties.

Key reasons why Government of Makueni County through Directorate of Trade, Marketing and Industry is supporting MSMEs :

Micro Small and Medium Enterprises are key enablers of economic growth and development in Makueni county.
MSMEs represent a core pillar of the economy and play a significant role in innovation, wealth, and employment creation.
So there is need to create an entrepreneurship culture where traders are constantly reminded of good business practices in order to increase their sales and profitability.
The directorate has been supporting MSMEs to access to better markets through programmes such as exhibitions, development of ICT portal, Soko Makueni, formation of member associations, value addition, and development of infrastructure among others.

The MSMEs were trained on financial planning, marketing needs, financing needs, book keeping and on use of technology in addition to:

Empowering the MSMEs toward self-reliance
Provide market outlets, product development, training and market information to the producers.
Enable participants to understand simple book keeping methods in relation to their business size.
Ensure the participants understand the advantages of keeping track of business transactions.
To instill skill and confidence in managing business finances.
Sensitizing on the use of technology in business operations
Spotting a business opportunity
Market penetration.
It was agreed that a better enabling environment be provided for revitalizing the MSMEs to improve economic growth through addressing inefficiencies in the County licensing regime, formalizing unlicensed MSMEs, and strengthening institutional management capacities
It was agreed that advisory, training and consultancy activities to promote business, leadership, and governance capacities sessions be conducted in all sub-counties.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLTRY TO ENHANCE DEVOLVED EDUCATION THROUGH ICT.

Makueni County has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Schooltry, a Swedish program founded in 2018, to enhance education through digital transformation. The partnership, involving the County’s ICT Department and Schooltry, aims to utilize ICT to improve service delivery in education and other sectors. Over the past two years, Makueni has achieved significant milestones in ICT and innovation including the Project Monitoring and Tracking System (PMTS), The County Integrated Health Management Information System ( CIHMIS), enhancement of the County Core Revenue System ( ZIZI), the Supplier Registration Portal, the Vocational Training Centers (VTC) Portal and other citizen engagement tools.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. highlighted the role of ICT in promoting transparency, saying, “We are a transparent government and that has been possible due to systems developed and deployed by our ICT Department.

The delegation expressed commitment to helping Makueni achieve the next level of digital transformation.

Schooltry’s team included Carlotta Falk, Global Head of Strategic Partnerships, George Jilani, Kenya Country Director, Ismail Eleburuike, Founder and Global CEO and Fredrick Wallmark, Global COO.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH SAFARICOM FOR DIGITIZATION OF TETHEKA FUND.

On Tuesday, Makueni County’s Executive Committee Member for Gender, Eng. Peter Mumo, along with his ICT counterpart, Elizabeth Muli, led a multi-sectoral team of officers and stakeholders in reviewing the status of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund’s (Tetheka) new digital system, developed in partnership with Safaricom.

This digital system aims to automate the entire process of Tetheka loans—from application and processing to lending and payment. The primary goals are to enhance inclusion, efficiency, transparency, recovery, and overall accountability.

Eng. Mumo said the system is poised to revolutionize affordable credit access for women, youth, and persons with disabilities, improving their financial empowerment.

The review meeting in Nairobi was also attended by representatives of the Makueni County Assembly Committee on Gender, and representatives from the World Food Programme, our key development partner in social empowerment.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH PATH, WITH SUPPORT FROM AMERICAN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL GIANT AMGEN, TO COMBAT THE GROWING THREAT OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCDs)

Makueni County is set to collaborate with PATH, a global primary healthcare organization, with support from the American biopharmaceutical giant Amgen, to combat the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and obesity.

This partnership will focus on breaking down barriers in screening, diagnosis, and care,particularly self-care within the county’s health system and communities.

The initiative follows a 2024 survey by PATH, which revealed alarming data: 98% of residents have limited knowledge about cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs), and nearly 40% are at risk of being overweight or obese.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo stresses the urgency of addressing these findings, calling NCDs a “quiet pandemic” that demands immediate action.

CECM for Health, Paul Musila, welcomed the partnership, noting its timely arrival amid rising NCD cases in the region.

Carolyne Njuguna, PATH Kenya’s Director, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to empowering both the health system and local communities through capacity-building and awareness campaigns focused on self-care and disease management.

Amgen’s Global Head, Sean Lybrand, praised the county’s leadership and emphasized the critical role of accessible NCD care in building a healthier society.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH PATH FOR BIOMEDICAL TRAINING TO ENHANCE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS.

Makueni County, in collaboration with PATH, is conducting a specialized training program for 16 biomedical engineering technologists at Makueni Referral Hospital.

The 5 day training which begun on Monday aimes at improving healthcare instrument management and ensuring the reliability of life-saving oxygen supply systems.

The program focuses on equipping participants with essential skills in handling, repairing, and maintaining critical medical equipment.

Chief officer Dr. Stephen Ndolo and Dr. Steven Mwatha were among those who graced the event.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH KITISE RURAL DEVELOPMENT CBO FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCE BUILDING.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior and his deputy Lucy Mulili on Monday hosted members of Kitise Rural Development, a community based organisation to review its activities in Makueni county.

Kitise Rural Development has been a catalyst for social change, with the aim of improving livelihoods of Makueni residents through provision of access to clean water and sanitation, healthcare services and youth empowerment.

The CBO engages in sustainable livelihood programs including pasture and milk value chain development producing processed yoghurt named Climate Fresh which is in the market.

The CBO has also been instrumental in undertaking capacity building of communities for effective public participation, community-led water harvesting technologies, and strengthening participatory planning & budgeting.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH KCB TO BOOST FINANCIAL INCLUSION EFFORTS

Makueni County is set to benefit from an enhanced partnership with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) focused on improving banking solutions and uplifting the lives of residents.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr on Thursday hosted a delegation of KCB top managers led by David Nyamu, General Manager Corporate Banking, for consultations on the partnership.

One of the major initiatives discussed was the Mifugo ni Mali program, which seeks to provide funding and financial training to local farmers. Additionally, KCB plans to introduce a program dubbed 2Jiajiri, designed to promote self-employment and enterprise development among the youth.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH JUDICIARY TO ROLL OUT ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

In a significant move to enhance access to justice at the grassroots level, Makueni County has announced a strategic partnership with the Judiciary to establish an Alternative Justice System (AJS). This initiative aims at streamlining justice delivery through culturally grounded and community-led mechanisms that complement formal court processes.

Speaking on Thursday when she paid courtesy call on Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. in his office, Lady Justice Mumbua Matheka, Judge of the High Court, emphasized the urgent need for a structured Alternative Justice System to address the root causes of injustice and ensure timely dispute resolution.

She said AJS will be established in every sub-county and that the teams will include local national Government administrators, county grassroots officers, religious leaders, opinion leaders, elders, and representatives from the Court Users Committee (CUC) and undergo specialized training in legal and traditional dispute resolution skills.

Justice Matheka referenced a national survey revealing that only 17% of disputes in Kenya reach formal courts. A significant 67% are resolved informally within communities, while 16% are abandoned altogether. She said this shows the need for a more inclusive justice system that recognizes the important role of traditional dispute resolution.

Governor Mutula welcomed the initiative, expressing full support for the judiciary’s efforts to bring justice closer to the people.

Also present at the meeting were High Court Judge, Justice Elijah Obaga, Chief Magistrate P. N. Gesora, Resident Magistrate, F.C. Ngetich, Senior Resident Magistrate, M. Mutua, and CECM, Finance Damaris Kavoi.

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTICIPATES IN PRE-MADARAKA DAY FOOD SECURITY EXHIBITION

May 27, 2024

Makueni County is participating in the Pre-Madaraka Day Food Security Exhibition, which began today, 27th May, and will continue until 31st May, 2024, in Bungoma County. This exhibition precedes this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations, themed “Agriculture and Food Security.”

The exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, aims to bring together key players in the sector to engage in in-depth discussions, analysis, and exhibitions of strategies and achievements in Kenya’s food security.

Agriculture PS Rono officially launched the exhibition. The theme for Day 1 is “Interventions to Enhance Access and Utilization of Agricultural Sector Inputs.”

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MAKUENI COUNTY OUTREACH: ENGAGING TRADERS AT MTITO ANDEI MARKET

The Department of Finance and Socio-Economic Planning, led by CECM Damaris Kavoi, conducted a community outreach program at Mtito Andei Market on Wednesday.

The event kicked off with a market cleaning exercise involving department officials, local traders and other stakeholders, fostering community collaboration and responsibility.

During a follow-up consultative meeting later in the day, Ms. Kavoi commended the 70% of traders who regularly pay their taxes and encouraged others to adopt a flexible tax payment plan that allows for installments.

She further announced a 10% discount for traders who pay on time, emphasizing, “Paying taxes is a shared responsibility that benefits the entire county.”

Also attending the exercise, Lands and Urban Planning CECM Japheth Mang’oka pledged to resolve land disputes and work with surveyors to improve market planning.

On the other hand, area MCA Hon. Francis Mulwa supported the initiative, highlighting its importance in paving the way for infrastructure development and market growth.

The event, also attended by Chief Officer Boniface Mutua and other county officials, underscored Makueni County’s dedication to community engagement, improved services, and sustainable development.