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MAKUENI PUSHES GOVERNANCE REFORMS TO STRENGTHEN RURAL WATER SERVICES

The Government of Makueni County has intensified efforts to strengthen sustainability and accountability in rural water service delivery through a high-level engagement bringing together the Department of Water, Water Service Providers and the Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB).

The meeting, led by Ag. CECM for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Japheth Mang’oka and Chief Officer David Makau, focused on reforms aimed at ensuring community water schemes operate professionally, transparently and in compliance with regulatory standards.

Key discussions centered on licensing of rural water schemes, tariff approvals, delegated service provision agreements and accountability measures to enhance efficiency in water management.

Held under the K-WASH Programme, the forum also reviewed the performance of Water Service Providers in the county and explored sustainable management models expected to improve operations and expand access to clean, reliable water for rural communities

MAKUENI PURSUES PEACEFUL OUT-OF-COURT LAND RESOLUTIONS

Makueni County, through the Department of Lands, Urban Planning and Development, has kicked off plans to establish Alternative Justice System (AJS) structures to handle land disputes outside the courtroom.

In partnership with the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the Digital Land Governance Programme, the department has concluded a two-day sensitization workshop for key stakeholders in the land sector.

The training brought together Sub-county development planning committees, land surveyors, county coordinator, national land commission, county land registry and land adjudicators as well as representatives from municipalities to deepen their understanding of the role of AJS in resolving land conflicts and unlocking resource potentials.

Participants were taken through Kenya’s AJS policy framework, its application within the county, and the use of the Land Information Management System.

The main goal of the training is to establish and strengthen AJS structures that can help resolve boundary disputes, land and resource conflicts, succession matters, and other cases more efficiently and peacefully.

MAKUENI PRESENTS 342 PARTICIPANTS AT THE 97th KENYA MUSIC AND CULTURAL FESTIVALS.

The 97th edition of the Kenya Music and Cultural Festivals was officially launched on Tuesday at the Taita Taveta National Polytechnic in Voi, marking the start of a thrilling ten-day celebration of Kenya’s vibrant artistic and cultural heritage.

The event, which was graced by Taita Taveta Deputy Governor H.E. Christine Saru Kilalo, promises a rich array of performances, including music choirs, drama, spoken word, narratives and cultural exhibitions drawn from all over the country.

During the opening ceremony, Kilalo warmly welcomed participants and visitors to Taita Taveta, urging the competitors to celebrate the nation’s diverse cultures through their performances.

Makueni County made a notable contribution to the festival with 342 participants led the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism by Dr. Sonia Nzilani,

Dr. Nzilani expressed confidence in Makueni’s strong performance, highlighting the county’s continued commitment to nurturing and developing its arts, music and cultural sectors.

The launch ceremony also featured a spirited and electrifying modern dance performance by Wote Technical Training Institute, which had previously taken first place in 96th edition of KMCF held in Makueni.

The ceremony was attended by KMCF Chairperson Prof. Emily Akuno, Kenya Cultural Centre Chief Executive Officer Michael Pundo, Makueni’s Chief Officer Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani among other national and county government officials.

MAKUENI PREPARES FOR MCEF ROLLOUT TO BOOST GROUP ENTERPRISES

Organized groups engaged in income-generating activities in Makueni are set for a major boost as the county government prepares to roll out the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF).

With a capital outlay of Sh168 million, the fund will support women, youth, PWDs, and other marginalized groups to grow their enterprises and transition into mainstream financial systems.

Initially launched in 2015 as the Tetheka Fund, the initiative faced challenges including high default rates and weak recovery mechanisms.

Under the leadership of Mutula Kilonzo Jr, the fund has been restructured to align with reviewed legal frameworks, reduce default risks, and enhance financial inclusion.

On Tuesday, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, alongside Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, presided over the induction of the County Fund Committee ahead of the rollout phase.

Lending will be issued to organized groups through a digital platform developed in partnership with Safaricom.

MAKUENI PREPARES FOR E-VOUCHER FMD VACCINATION ROLLOUT

The Department of Agriculture and Livestock on Thursday concluded a two-day training on the e-voucher Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination model, ahead of its rollout in the county.

The training brought together 40 Veterinary Surgeons(VS) and Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs), alongside representatives from 13 Farmer Producer Organizations (VPOs) where participants were equipped with skills to implement the digital vaccination system smoothly.

Speaking during the closure of the training, CECM for Agriculture and Livestock, Liz Muli, urged Farmer Producer Organization leaders to take the lead in mobilizing farmers to embrace the new system.

She further noted that the digital approach will improve efficiency, transparency and disease control across the county, adding that strong collaboration between service providers and farmer groups is key to protecting livestock and improving productivity in Makueni.

During the registration exercise, farmers will be enrolled on the Mifugo 360 app using their national ID numbers and mobile phone contacts.

Upon successful registration, each farmer will receive an e-voucher worth KSh 50 per cow, issued according to the number of animals presented for vaccination.

The vaccination will be carried out through 13 cooperatives across the county, with farmers registering their livestock online at the nearest cooperative.

MAKUENI PRAISED FOR FLOCCA PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Makueni County has been commended for its integrated approach to implementing projects under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLOCCA) programme during an implementation support mission by the World Bank team and representatives from partner agencies.

The delegation, led by FLOCCA Programme Manager for County Co-ordination Abraham Barsosui and World Bank Senior Water Engineer Pascaline Wanjiku, paid a courtesy call on the county leadership as part of a mission to review implementation progress and strengthen programme governance. The team included representatives from support agencies, among them the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The team praised the County for integrating agriculture, water and environmental projects, as well as its commitment to documentation and transparency in programme implementation.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili thanked the delegation for its support and reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to completing all FLOCCA-funded projects before the programme ends in December.

She said the projects would have a lasting impact on residents’ livelihoods but raised concern over increasing vandalism of public projects, saying the vice was undermining development efforts.

MAKUENI PRAISED BY SENATE COMMITTEE OVER PRUDENT USE OF SPECIAL FUNDS

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Tuesday earned praise from senators after appearing before the Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee to respond to audit queries and update members on the implementation of previous recommendations.

Senators commended Makueni County for the efficient utilization of Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) funds, citing the county’s prudent financial management .

Governor Mutula told the committee that the county was resolving land succession disputes affecting four parcels hosting the Makueni Fruit Development and Marketing Authority, a move expected to secure ownership of the property.

On the Makueni County Empowerment Fund, formerly known as Tetheka, the governor said the county had operationalized new regulations, was recovering debts inherited under the previous structure and had begun piloting the new model in 41 groups.

Senators also lauded the automation of the fund, describing Makueni as a benchmark in the management and implementation of county empowerment programmes.

The committee was chaired by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.

MAKUENI POISED FOR MAJOR ECONOMIC BOOST AS NAIROBI-MOMBASA EXPRESSWAY PROJECT TAKES SHAPE

Makueni County is set to reap huge benefits from the proposed Nairobi-Mombasa Expressway, an infrastructure project expected to cost KSh 455 billion.

The 444-kilometre modern highway will pass through 110 kilometres of Makueni, positioning the county as a key beneficiary of the development.

Once complete, the expressway will drastically cut travel time between Nairobi and Mombasa to just five hours, offering a faster, safer, and more sustainable transport corridor.

The project is expected to unlock massive economic potential along its route.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, a representative of the company organising the project’s funding, Evergreen Capital Kyle McCarter, revealed that the expressway blueprint includes the establishment of three new cities.

The expressway which features 12 highway exits, eight rest areas, and three wildlife crossings, will take 4 years to construct.

Stakeholder engagement remains a priority, with plans to involve county governments, landowners, and other affected parties to ensure smooth implementation, fair compensation, and conflict-free development.

MAKUENI PLANS TO INTRODUCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN TB DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

Makueni’s department of health services has partnered with Centre for International Health, Education, and Biodiversity (CIHEB) Kenya to roll out use of Artificial Intelligence in Tuberculosis diagnostics.

The first phase will be rolled out in Makueni County Referral Hospital and Makindu Sub-county Hospital. The disease burden is highest in Makueni and Kibwezi West Subcounties.

Integration of AI technology aims to facilitate early detection and management through Tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili who led Makueni in marking the World TB Day at KMTC grounds in Wote, said Makueni has enough drug stocks to combat TB and urged residents to come out in large numbers for screening and treatment if found positive.

Statistics show that 92 percent of those diagnosed with TB in Makueni in 2023 are now free of the disease following consistent treatment and management.

Makueni pens deal with UN-Habitat for sustainable development partnership

Makueni County on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UN-Habitat to collaborate in different development projects in the county.

The MoU, signed by governor Kivutha Kibwana and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Sharif seeks to:-

  • Improve county planning practices;
  • Enhance production and use of appropriate materials for decent housing;
  • Develop a Green Energy Strategy with an action plan;
  • Develop a plan for sustainable solid waste management;
  • Strengthen revenue enhancement capacity and Local Economic Development (LED) and
  • Empower youth development.

The deal, according to governor Kibwana, will help achieve better quality of life for the people of Makueni with hope that it will open opportunities for partnerships with other UN bodies.

“We are excited about this deal. When we began negotiations last year, we had a list of many things but slowly it has been easy. We hope this is an opening for more partnerships with other UN bodies,” Kibwana said.

Sharif acknowledged the county for its efforts towards achieving the big four agenda in the country citing her happiness to see the signing of deal come true.

She said: ” I acknowledge the contribution of Makueni towards realising of the big four agenda in the country. I’m happy to see this come true today.”

Present to witness the signing of the agreement were deputy governor Adelina Mwau and other top county government officials.

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