Following the Disaster at River Muatineni in Sultan Hamud, the following is an update of the rescue and recovery mission by the County, National Government and Redcross Multi-agency team.
1. Persons rescued: 14
3. Persons reported missing: 8
A command post and tracing center established at Sultan Hamud Hospital.
Call 0715 486141 incase you find a missing person or any other emergency
The collection, which includes storybooks and science books, will enrich the school’s library and supplement existing curriculum materials.
During the handover on February 7, 2025, the Chief Officer for ICT, Education, and Internship, Irene Makau, encouraged students to make the most of the resources to improve their academic performance, creativity, and critical thinking.
The Principal expressed gratitude, stating that the books would greatly benefit both students and teachers by fostering a stronger reading culture and enriching learning experiences.
This donation marks a significant step in supporting education at Unoa Comprehensive School, ensuring students have access to diverse learning materials to enhance their knowledge and skills.
A two day conference at Wote, Makueni, on Universal Healthcare coverage ended Thursday with a rallying call to the national government to implement the programme across the country.
The conference brought together multi-sectorial stakeholders and agencies to deliberate on the possibilities and framework for implementation of a Universal Healthcare programme to accord Kenyans quality, accessible and affordable healthcare.
Host governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana described the conference as a historic event that will revolutionize the health sector if its deliberations are effectively implemented.
“If there was ever any doubt on the possibility of achieving Universal Healthcare in Kenya, that doubt has been debunked by the Makueni conference,” he said.
“A major take-home for everyone is that Universal healthcare is achievable with the right framework and goodwill by all supportive agencies. Strategic partnerships are the key to achieving this dream,” said Prof Kibwana.
The Makueni governor said the experiences of several counties such as Makueni, Laikipia and Kakamega that have tried different facets of universal healthcare programmes is testimony enough that it can be rolled out nationally with success.
United Nations Development Programme resident representative to Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee said the surging Kenyan population calls for a rethink in the country’s healthcare system.
“By 2050, Kenya’s population is likely to hit 90Million. This will by all means exert pressure on the country’s health sector,” Mr Chatterjee noted.
He called for preventive healthcare system with focus on immunization more than the curative system.
He said mainstreaming of community health workers into the healthcare system would boost the preventive system.
Kenya Healthcare Federation Chief Executive Officer Dr. Amit Thakker said the private sector is willing to play a key partner to the Universal Healthcare programme.
He pledged pro-bono services in support of the improvement of the Makuenicare universal healthcare programme.
Planning Principal Secretary Dr Julius Muia who graced the event said if corruption was eliminated fro the health sector,the Universal Healthcare programme would be implemented without the need to look outside the country.
AMREF Health Africa Chief Executive Officer Dr Githinji Gitahi said the foundation would play a key role in the Universal Healthcare Conversation through capacity building and training.
He said AMREF will soon commence construction works for a medical university at Makindu on a 50-acre piece of land donated by the Makueni County government, which would be key in medical training and research.
Other leaders who graced the event include Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, Prof. Khama Rogo a World Bank health specialist and Makueni deputy governor Adelina Mwau.
In a bid to eliminate stigma around menstruation and promote inclusive health, Health Services ECM Dr. Paul Musila has called on communities and stakeholders to join hands in supporting menstrual hygiene initiatives.
During the commemoration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day held on Thursday at Yieini primary school in Kibwezi West sub county, Dr. Paul Musila led an event aimed at breaking taboos and improving sanitation standards for learners.
He emphasized the critical role of community support, partnerships, and stakeholder collaboration in creating a stigma-free environment for menstruating girls.
He launched dignity pack distribution for adolescents—both girls and boys—as a show of inclusivity and shared responsibility.
The initiative also spotlighted the need for sustained efforts in providing menstrual hygiene products and ensuring schools have adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure to support girls during their periods.
Chief Officer for Health Administration, Human Resource and Management, Dr. Harvey Mulei, echoed the call for enhanced stakeholder engagement in supporting menstrual health, underlining that access to proper hygiene resources is a basic right, not a privilege.
UNICEF Country Director to Kenya, Shaheen Nilofer, alongside Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., led a pivotal meeting today aimed at exploring potential collaboration to advance Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in Makueni County. The discussions centered on strengthening efforts to improve the quality of education and care for young learners.
Makueni County has made remarkable progress over the past two years in transforming its ECDE sector, with a strong focus on infrastructure enhancement, teacher development, and learner support. The county has excelled in providing essential teaching and learning materials, fostering talent development, and ensuring the health and nutritional well-being of ECDE learners. Notably, the county’s health department has successfully reached 1,298 ECDE centers between January and June 2024, representing a 93% coverage rate.
During the meeting, both parties explored key areas for future collaboration. These included promoting health and nutrition initiatives, introducing school feeding programs, and providing digital learning gadgets to enhance modern learning methods. Additionally, the introduction of kitchen gardens was discussed as a way to diversify the learners’ diets, alongside efforts to improve water sanitation, hygiene interventions, and social protection programs for young children.
Ms. Nilofer praised Makueni for its commitment to empowering teachers and building a robust ECDE infrastructure. She emphasized the importance of early childhood interventions, noting that catching children at this formative stage is critical for long-term success. “Makueni has set an excellent example with what it has achieved so far,” Nilofer remarked, commending the county for prioritizing early learning and expressing confidence in the potential for future collaboration.
UNICEF leadership further acknowledged the county’s progress and expressed interest in supporting its digital learning platforms, which aim to increase parental engagement in the educational process. The exchange of best practices and the scaling of successful initiatives were highlighted as key opportunities for collaboration.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to strengthening ECDE in the county and welcomed UNICEF’s support in expanding these efforts. “We are committed to giving our young learners the best foundation possible,” he said, expressing optimism about the long-term impact of these partnerships. Governor Kilonzo also underscored Makueni’s readiness to work closely with UNICEF in implementing the proposed initiatives to further uplift the county’s early childhood education landscape.
The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, with both leaders expressing their shared vision of creating a brighter future for Makueni’s youngest learners through targeted support and innovative programs.
Land inheritance in Kenya follows a legal process to ensure fair distribution of a deceased person’s estate.
This process involves beneficiaries applying for Letters of Administration in court, which are then published in the Kenya Gazette for 30 days to allow objections.
The court then grants probate for wills or issues letters of administration if no will exists.
With regard to the above, Makueni County Government through the office of the County Attorney concluded a seven-day legal clinic on awareness of land succession matters in seven wards.
During the clinics that reached thousands of Makueni residents, it became evident that there was a lack of awareness about the succession process, including the transfer of a deceased person’s name to an administrator and the required documentation.
Speaking on Monday at Kithungo/Kitundu Ward, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. emphasized the importance of understanding the legal process to ensure smooth land ownership transitions.
“With proper documentation, families can avoid the risk of losing land due to disputes or fraudulent claims,” he stated.
Governor Mutula further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to simplifying land succession with proper legal guidance and encouraged residents to allocate funds for the process in the upcoming Budget cycle.
The legal clinics held at Kitundu Social Hall and Kithungo Chief’s Camp, were also attended by area MCA Kisungi Wa Ketete, County Attorney Stanley Nthiwa, County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa and Chief Officer Felistus Mutune among other officers.
Makueni’s sand conservation efforts have caught the eye of the United Nations Mission in Kenya, which now seeks to replicate the sand dam conservation technology to the rest of the country.
On Friday, a delegation of 12 UN agencies and the State Department of Devolution trooped to Makueni for an experiential learning mission on the impact of sand dams towards addressing water shortages, food security, climate change and ecological restoration.
The experience, according to UN-Mission Kenya Resident Coordinator Dr. Stephen Jackson will be key in upscaling sand dams’ construction in Makueni and other parts of the country through a joint working framework with the Ministry of Devolution and counties.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr who hosted the delegation said Makueni is heavily investing in sand dams as a solution to perennial challenges of hunger, water shortages and negatives effects of climate change. The county has a total of over a 1,000 sand dams, with potential for 1,000 more across its major seasonal rivers.
Devolution Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika who coordinates all development partners in the country led the UN delegation to Makueni.
Farmers from Makueni, Machakos and Kitui counties are set to benefit from an irrigation agribusiness program, an initiative geared towards enhancing food security through irrigated agriculture.
The church community based project, launched at Vyulya village in Machakos is a brainchild of ABC Archbishop in charge of East Africa Timothy Ndambuki and supported by TIMADA LTD and Church Capacity Building and Support Centre (CCCBSC).
The program was unveiled by Archbishop Ndambuki, Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Maliti on Wednesday.
According to the Archbishop, a successful model, tried and proven in Vyulya shall be replicated in the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB) to create employment and promote agribusiness across Ukambani and beyond.
“We want this to move to the three counties and we are urging them to walk with us. This will help us improve food security as well as create employment to our youth and women,” said Ndambuki.
The program, to adopt the Israel Moshav model, will entail training of farmers by experts on agricultural skills and supplied with various farm equipment and inputs. The farmers will further form a cooperative society that will help them market their produce as well as link them to export opportunities.
Governors Kivutha Kibwana, Alfred Mutua and Charity Ngilu on Friday met in Machakos for deliberations to jump-start the South Eastern Kenya Economic Bloc (SEKEB).
The meeting, chaired by Archbishop Timothy Ndambuki, was also attended by the assembly speakers, majority and minority leaders from the three counties, Kamba Council of Elders and representatives of the clergy.
The bloc, the leaders said, will create a platform for joint development investments and resource mobilization for wealth creation to rollback the poverty ravaging the region.
“We have decided to provide direction to our people to create wealth and pull out of fear, poverty, want and backwardness that is often associated with our region.” said governor Ngilu.
“We have numerous shared resources which if well utilized can make a lasting solution to this region,” she said further.
Governor Kibwana termed SEKEB as a unique outfit because while similar blocs by other counties comprise mainly of governors, SEKEB incorporates elders, church leaders, professionals and all interests across the different social and economic sectors.
He said the outfit could be used as an alternative disputes resolution mechanism incase of leadership wrangles as has been witnessed in Makueni in the first cycle of devolution and currently in Machakos.
Governor Mutua said the bloc would provide a platform for all leaders from the region to work towards a common goal irrespective of the regional geopolitics.
Members of parliament, senators and members of county assembly will also be brought on board for inclusivity.
