News

Makueni goes Cashless in Revenue Collection with Damaris Kavoi-ECM Finance

Officials drawn from the Department of Finance, Planning, Budget & Revenue led by County Executive Committee Member (CECM), Finance, Damaris Kavoi on Friday carried out a day-long exercise sensitizing Wote business community on the move to digitizing the Revenue Collection exercise across the county.

The exercise aims at easing the operations which include; the time taken to process business permits, and cashless parking fee payment methods, among others.

She also pointed out that the government is committed to ensuring the smooth running of activities through modern digitization.

Makueni, GIZ in partnership talks

The First Lady H.E Anita Mutula today held a consultative meeting with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) corporation where they discussed possible areas of working together.

GIZ is an international organization that works with national, international, and private sector partners and concerns itself with priority areas; sustainable economic development, renewable energy, and climate change.

GIZ eyes to partner with the County through the office of the First Lady to empower women from deep within the villages.

The partnership aims at creating more consumer awareness and adoption of new friendly technologies such as improved cooking stoves for locals among others.

Anita was thrilled by the new technology saying that it will create jobs for the youth and reduce respiratory problems linked to firewood use.

500 Makueni girl students to benefit from Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Career Mentorship

At least 500 girls from six secondary schools in Makueni will benefit from a one year mentorship and skills development in a bid to take up Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and careers.

The mentorship programme is courtesy of a project dubbed GIRLS IN STEM launched on Monday at Mbooni Girls National School through a partnership between Youth and Success Association (YASA) and the Government of Makueni County.

The project will involve outstanding professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) interacting with girl students in form two in an intensive career mentorship to encourage and support them to achieve their full potentials in STEM.

According to Mildred Mudany, the Chief Executive Officer Help Reach Africa, who holds a PhD in Tropical Medicine, the project aims to achieve among others: Ensure higher participation and leadership of girls and Women on STEM; To open up well paying career opportunities for girls and women; To build self confidence among girls and women; Increase awareness and participation of girls and women in STEM and Innovation as well as increase the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (1, 2, 4, 5, 8 and 17)

The project was launched during an occasion to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM, and was graced by among others: Governor Kivutha Kibwana, County First Lady Nazi Kivutha, KenGen Chief Quality Engineer Catherine Nyambala.

As we celebrate women and girls in STEM, we have come to stimulate interest from the earliest years, to combat stereotypes and engage girls across the County, in the nation and globally to pursue STEM careers and to mentor our girls and young women to change mindsets towards the STEM career”, said governor Kibwana.

Makueni gets World Bank nod on Credit Worthiness

Makueni county has been given a through pass by the World Bank on credit worthiness through a rating survey conducted by Global Credit Rating Agency, under the County Credit-Worthiness Initiative.

The County Credit Worthiness Initiative is a collaboration between the National Treasury, Commission on Revenue Allocation, Capital Markets Authority and County Governments Supported by the World Bank Group.

The initiative aims at building the capacity of county governments to access long-term development financing from the capital markets to fund capital intensive infrastructure growth, which would otherwise have take years to achieve through the equitable revenue share financing.

Makueni alongside Bungoma and Kisumu were chosen for piloting of this initiative after agreeing to institute strengthened financial management systems, fiscal structures that support responsible borrowing and institutionalized framework that can oversee sustainable county government borrowing.

The three had their Credit Ratings unveiled in public by CRA on Wednesday in Nairobi, in an event attended by respective governors; Kivutha Kibwana, Wycliffe Wangamati, Anyang’ Nyong’o and Officials from World Bank, National Treasury and CMA.

By Financial Year 2020/2021, the counties will be able to access credit financing from the capital markets through County bonds, Infrastructure bonds, Corporate bonds or securitization of receivables such as own source revenue.

Some of the Key funding sources for this financing plan include pension schemes, insurance companies, SACCOs, diaspora and Collective Investment Schemes.

MAKUENI GETS READY AHEAD OF MANGO PEAK SEASON.

Are you a mango farmer in Makueni County seeking a reliable and fair market for your produce? The Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority is now ready to receive mangoes from farmers across the county as from Thursday this week.

Under the new arrangement, contracted cooperatives will purchase mangoes directly from farmers at the farm gate at KSh 19 per kilogram.

In the current financial year, the county government plans to purchase mangoes worth KSh 13.9 million, up from KSh 11 million spent in the previous financial year.

Speaking during a meeting chaired by deputy governor Lucy Mulili at the Kalamba fruit processing plant on Tuesday, CECM for Agriculture Elizabeth Muli said seven contracted cooperatives have been allocated specific zones from which to source mangoes.

Each cooperative is expected to deliver at least 50 metric tonnes of mangoes weekly to the factory which has a daily processing capacity of 70 metric tonnes.

The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kioko reported that at least 60 casual workers have been engaged at the plant during the processing period.

To protect farmers from exploitation by middlemen, who previously purchased produce at low prices, the Authority has introduced official pricing schedules.

These schedules will be signed by farmers upon sale of their produce to ensure transparency and accountability.

The initiative is part of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s administration’s efforts to grow household incomes and promote trade & industrialization through agro processing.

MAKUENI GEARS UP TO DOMINATE KYISA GAMES AGAIN AS CHAMPIONS EYE HOMA BAY GLORY!

Makueni County is on a mission to conquer once more! Fresh off their stunning triumph at last year’s Kenya Youth Inter-county Sports Association (KYISA) games in Malindi, the defending champions are charging into Homa Bay with fire in their hearts and victory on their minds.

In an electrifying flag-off ceremony on Friday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. handed the county flag to six teams—men and women primed for glory—as they prepare to battle for supremacy from April 13th to 19th.

“We are not just participating—we are defending our crown!” declared Governor Mutula, expressing confidence in the squads assembled from the just concluded MKJ Supa Cup.

Last year, Makueni left opponents in the dust, clinching gold in men’s volleyball and dominating women’s football. Now, with Homa Bay in their sights, the champions are hungry to prove their reign is no fluke.

Makueni Fruit Processing Plant Roars to Life

The engines have roared to life. The long awaited Makueni Fruit Processing Plant is now a reality. Governor Kivutha Kibwana, Makueni Farmers representatives, and residents of Makueni have today unveiled the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant at Kalamba. The Plant has a capacity to process 5 metric tons of raw mangoes producing 3,000 liters of Puree (Mango concentrate) per hour. A liter of the concentrate fetches KES 150 at the market place.

Before devolution, the idea of establishing a fruit processing plant, in Makueni to help our fruit farmers to stem wastage and raise incomes was always dear and heavily borne in our hearts and minds. However, the power and opportunity to allocate public resources of the magnitude required to realize this remained a dream. Dreams not achieved turned into nightmares during the peak seasons when mango prices dipped to three shillings per piece.

This factory will provide opportunities for local farmers and investors to own a stake and grow wealth, learn new technologies and learn about value addition to increase farm incomes. Our farmers are the primary stakeholders of the plant. The Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries is now seized with enhancement of the quality of our fruits, control of the fruit fly and farmer education to ensure the fruits processed in the plant are compliant with European Union (EU) standards.

MAKUENI FRUIT PROCESSING PLANT BEGINS MANGO PROCESSING TO BOOST MANGO UPTAKE

Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili has announced that the county government will review the budget for the Makueni Fruit Processing Plant in the next financial year to ensure it continues supporting local farmers. Speaking on Wednesday during an official tour of the facility, Mulili assured farmers in the county that all mangoes collected at the plant are sourced from Makueni county.

She encouraged mango farmers to explore additional markets, including exports, which she said have significant potential for increased off-take.

The Deputy Governor made the remarks while meeting chairpersons of contracted cooperative societies responsible for purchasing mangoes from farmers at the plant.

The Plant has begun large-scale mango processing to create space for increased fruit intake during the peak harvest season. The move follows an overwhelming response from farmers across the county.

So far, the plant has received more than 250 metric tonnes of mangoes and is targeting to receive up to 580 metric tonnes, supported by an allocated budget of KSh 13.9 million.

According to the plant’s Chief Executive Officer, the facility is working with seven cooperative societies mandated to off-take mangoes from farmers across the county. Agriculture Executive Committee Member Elizabeth Muli said a thorough verification process is underway to ensure only genuine Makueni farmers benefit from the programme.

She added that aggressive marketing and farmer sensitisation have resulted in deliveries exceeding capacity at the ripening chambers. Processing is currently ongoing to free up space and allow continued intake, with more mango deliveries expected in the coming week.

Makueni Fruit Development Authority Processing plant at Kalamba starts mango processing

The Makueni Fruit Development Authority Processing plant at Kalamba started recieving mangoes for processing. Over 102 MT is in the ripening chamber ready to be processed to puree. The Authority is buying mango through the pre-qualified suppliers at kes. 18 per kg. Minimum farm gate price is kes.15.

MAKUENI FRUIT AUTHORITY WELCOMES NEW CEO

The Makueni County Fruit Development and Marketing Authority has received Joseph Kioko as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Kioko formerly Managing Director of Kenya Planters Co-operative Union Ltd (KPCU) takes over from Agnes Kitili, who has been serving in an acting capacity.

In driving the authority’s mission, the new CEO is expected to transform the livelihoods of fruit farmers across Makueni by ensuring stable mango prices and reducing post-harvest losses.

The Thursday onboarding was witnessed by Elizabeth Muli, the County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development, who expressed confidence that the new CEO will strengthen the county’s fruit sector and boost farmers’ incomes.

The authority remains a key driver in positioning Makueni as a leader in fruit production and marketing, providing farmers with fair returns while securing the future of the county’s mango industry.