News

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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Makueni Pens Deal with Heifer International to fight hunger

Makueni County has inked a three-year partnership deal with Heifer International, a United States non-profit Corporation with presence in Kenya, to fight hunger and poverty in the county.

The deal aims at creating a framework for joint agricultural value chains development with key focus on dairy, poultry and beef value chains.

According to Heifer International Country Director George Odhiambo, the partnership will seek to leverage on modern methods of livestock development geared towards increased farmer incomes.

Some of the specific areas of partnerships include Research; Farmer trainings and capacity building; Linkage with financial services; Facilitating access to appropriate Technologies; Facilitating access to markets and Collecting, analyzing and monitoring data for decision making.

The two entities will also utilize the local field extension systems to build the capacity of producer organizations and farmers to effectively integrate all factors of crop and animal production which includes breeding, water access, feeds, milk quality, animal health, farmer training and access to financing.

Governor Kivutha Kibwana who signed the MoU on behalf of the County government said it will assist in technology transfer through the county borrowing from Heifer’s Values Based Holistic Community Development (VBHCD) model.

He said the deal will go a long way in creating jobs for youths, women while improving rural economies.

Agriculture ECM Lawrence Nzunga who witnessed the signing said the county is in the process of establishing a poultry abattoir at Kitise and the partnership will enable its successful roll out and sustainability.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH WOMEN ENGAGED IN DEVELOPMENT TO TRAIN BODABODA OPERATORS ON MATERNAL HEALTH

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday joined Prof.Ann Kihara, Executive Director for Women Engaged in development to roll out an innovative program targeting bodaboda operators as key players in maternal healthcare under the Okoa na Mtoto Initiative.

The launch, held at the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote, brought together bodaboda representatives who were trained as trainers of trainers on maternal, newborn, and adolescent health.

They will cascade this knowledge to their peers across the county to ensure safer pregnancies and deliveries.

Prof. Ann Kihara noted that expectant women in rural areas often rely on bodabodas as the most accessible and affordable means of transport during emergencies.

She emphasized that training riders would strengthen their role in supporting timely maternal healthcare.

Her program aims to, within two years, cut maternal deaths reported in health facilities by 30 percent, achieve 80 percent timely emergency transfers, and enroll at least 40 percent of active riders into an accredited emergency transport network.

Governor Mutula urged bodaboda leaders to sensitize their members, stressing that their involvement is vital in reducing preventable maternal and child mortality in Makueni.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH PATH TO BOOST OXYGEN PLANT MAINTENANCE SKILLS

The Makueni Department of Health Services has collaborated with PATH to enhance the skills of biomedical engineering technologists across the county hospitals in operating and maintaining Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology.

This five-day intensive training program emphasizes the critical importance of occupational health and safety in oxygen plant setups.

It also equips participants with essential skills in operating and maintaining oxygen plants, including troubleshooting and repair procedures.

This initiative is part of the county’s ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and ensure the reliability of life-saving oxygen supply systems.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL TO TACKLE FOOD SECURITY AND MALNUTRITION THROUGH NEW POLICY.

In a strategic effort to address nutritional challenges in Makueni, the Department of Health Services has partnered with Nutrition International to develop a Food and Nutrition Security Policy.

This policy aims to tackle these issues by outlining key strategies, commitments, and an implementation framework designed to enhance nutrition and food security.

On Thursday, the Makueni Health Assembly Committee reviewed the draft policy, offering critical input before it is presented to the County Assembly for adoption.

During the forum, Nutrition International’s Country Director, Martha Nyangaya, urged participants to reconsider the advertising of fast foods near schools, drawing a parallel to the restrictions placed on alcohol and cigarettes. She noted that such marketing contributes significantly to poor nutrition among children.

Health Services Chief Officer, Dr. Stephen Ndolo, emphasized the importance of a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach to the policy’s implementation, noting that this synergy is key to fostering social development and improving public health outcomes.

County Executive Committee Member in charge of Devolution,County administration,public participation & special programs Japheth Mang’oka opened the forum.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH NATIONAL DIRECTORATE OF CHILD SERVICES TO FAST-TRACK COMPLETION OF CHILD PROTECTION CENTER

In response to the growing number of street families, Makueni County has accelerated efforts to provide shelter and support for homeless children through the completion of the Makueni Child Protection Center.

On Thursday, during an inspection of the facility at Mwanyani in Emali Mulala Ward, Kibwezi West Constituency, County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services commended the national government’s Directorate of Children Services for its collaboration and commitment to ensuring the county has a safe space for vulnerable children.

When complete, the facility will transform the lives of children who have been forced to live on the streets in towns like Emali. It will also offer rehabilitation, beisides providing education for children with disabilities.

The inspection was attended by key stakeholders, including Peter Ogindo from the Special Disability Saving Plan (SDSP), Kennedy Owino from the National Council for Children Services (NCCS), Elizabeth Kihoi from the Street Families Trust Fund (SFTF), and Henry Bihoro from the Cerebral Palsy (CP) organization.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH LEARDAL GLOBAL TO STRENGTHEN MATERNAL, NEWBORN CARE

For many parents, the birth of a child is one of life’s most joyous moments. Yet the day of birth can also be one of the most critical periods for both mother and baby.

According to the World Bank, more than 70 per cent of maternal and neonatal deaths occur around the time of labour and delivery, underscoring the need for timely and effective interventions during childbirth.

Complications such as postpartum haemorrhage and newborn asphyxia can occur without warning, requiring healthcare workers to respond swiftly to save lives.

To strengthen emergency response during childbirth, Makueni County has partnered with Laerdal Global Health, a Tanzania-based non-governmental organisation that supports health systems to improve the delivery of lifesaving care.

The partnership seeks to equip frontline healthcare workers with the tools, skills and confidence needed to identify complications and respond quickly and effectively during labour, delivery and the immediate postnatal period.

Through the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC) programme, the county is in the process of procuring innovative clinical tools introduced by the partner to strengthen intrapartum and newborn care across its health facilities.

Among the tools is Moyo, a fetal heart rate monitoring device worn around a pregnant woman’s abdomen to monitor fetal heart rate during labour.

The county is also procuring NeoBeat, a newborn heart rate meter placed around the baby’s chest to monitor the heartbeat, alongside Upright and Penguin devices to support newborn care.

Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Joyce Mutua on Friday officially closed a six-day training for maternal and newborn health experts conducted by the Laerdal Global Health team at the Mother and Child Hospital.

Mutua welcomed the initiative, saying it would strengthen the county’s efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths and complement other interventions being implemented by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s administration to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.