News

MAKUENI INTENSIFIES RABIES FIGHT THROUGH FREE MASS DOG VACCINATION

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects both people and animals by attacking the brain and nervous system. It spreads mainly through bites or scratches from infected animals, especially dogs.

Once symptoms appear, rabies cannot be cured — but vaccination remains the safest and most effective way to stop its spread.

To protect communities from this life-threatening disease, the County Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development has intensified its ongoing rabies vaccination campaign in wards with high cases of rabies.

So far, 1,542 dogs from 910 households in Muvau/Kikumini Ward and 1,357 dogs from 728 households in Wote/Nziu Ward have been vaccinated.

The county aims to vaccinate 20,000 dogs in the seven wards, ensuring safer and healthier communities.

This initiative aims to ensure safer, rabies-free communities where humans and animals coexist in harmony.

#RabiesFreeMakueni #HealthyCommunity

MAKUENI INTENSIFIES LANDSCAPE RESTORATION OF DEGRADED LANDS

Makueni’s Department of Lands, in partnership with FAO and the European Union under the Digital Land Governance Programme, has completed a two-day capacity building workshop for Muambwani and Kalumbi Community Forests restoration stakeholders.

The training is geared towards equipping the stakeholders, among them the community, with necessary information for participatory forest management planning, build synergies among the different stakeholders and carry out monitoring and evaluation of the Muambwani-Kalumbi Community Forest restoration progress.

The training brought together community members, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service and ICRAF representatives.

County Chief Officer in charge of Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change Geoffrey Muthoka reiterated Makueni’s determination to restore degraded landscapes while encouraging the planting of high-value trees in both public and private farmlands.

Makueni Inks deal with WFP to promote Agriculture

Makueni County has penned a deal with World Food Programme (WFP) to promote Sustainable Food Systems in the County.

The five-year program, based on a 50-50 funding for multi sectoral value chains development, was signed by governor Kivutha Kibwana and WFP deputy country director Lara Fossi in Nairobi on Friday.

The program targets smallholder producers, youth, market and supply chain actors, food-insecure and vulnerable populations to benefit from sustainable, resilient inclusive food systems and meeting food and nutrition needs by 2023.

The deal seeks to among others;

Promote the scaling up of climate resilient technologies and best practices for improved and sustainable Smallholder food production systems;

Enhance sustainable rangeland management for improved livestock production and enhanced community resilience;

Strengthen the resilience capacity of communities on climate risk management through livelihood diversification and linkage to financial and insurance services;

Improve market and supply chain linkages, including reduction of post-harvest losses and opportunities for value addition and;

To strengthen technical and institutional capacity to deliver sustainable hunger solutions and building community resilience.

Some of the expected outcomes of the partnership are:

Scaling of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and irrigation management technologies;

Rehabilitation and Management of 10,000 acres of degraded rangeland;

Increased access to safe and reliable water for both domestic, livestock and irrigation use and;

Strengthening of community capacity to maintain and sustain water structures.

By end of the five years, the deal will have benefitted at least 44, 000 residents directly and over 200,000 indirectly.

The range of activities as outlined in the deal will cover; Kathonzweni, Kitise/Kithuki, Mavindini, Masongaleni, Ivingoni/Nzambani, Makindu, Kikumbulyu North, Kikumbulyu South, Kalawa and Kiima Kiu/Kalanzoni wards.

Makueni inks deal with Nairobi Women’s Hospital to establish recovery center

Makueni has officially unveiled a Sexual and Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (SGBVRC) at the Makueni County referral hospital.

The facility, the first by a county government, was unveiled on Wednesday by nominated Member of Parliament Cecily Mbarire flanked by governor Kivutha Kibwana, founder and director of strategy Nairobi Women’s Hospital Sam Thenya, Nairobi City County assembly speaker Beatrice Elachi, deputy governor Adelina Mwau and County MP Rose Museo.

Kibwana, on behalf of the County Government, also signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Nairobi Women’s Hospital which lays out a framework for collaboration between the two parties to develop, promote and strengthen joint actions and collaboration towards prevention and response to gender-based violence within Makueni County.

According to the MoU, The Nairobi Women Hospital Gender Recovery Centre will:

Offer technical support and guidance on the establishment and management of the county referral hospital gender based violence recovery centre (GBVRC).
Through consultation with the GMC, conduct capacity building on GBV prevention and response for key stakeholders involved in GBV management such as the healthcare providers, community structures and other relevant cadres or groups.
Provide technical advice to the policy makers and those in the county relevant institutions on strengthening GBV prevention and response and institutionalization of policies.
Collaborate with GMC to institutionalize the use of evidence informed interventions through activities such as baseline and end-line assessments, program reviews.
Implement targeted community and learning institutions education awareness on GBV prevention and response in collaboration with GMC
Collaborate with the county to support in monitoring GBV activities through quarterly stakeholders’ meetings and other appropriate approaches.
Collaborate wth GMC in sharing GBV data to promote evidence based programming maintaining confidentiality of affected persons (Suvivors of gender based violence).
At their cost, receive referrals for GBV specialized care and treatment
Participate in or facilitate GBV technical coordination group meetings
Aassist in establishing linkages and networks including resource mobilization for the GBV program.

Makueni inks deal with ChildFund Kenya to promote sustainable development in the County

Makueni County has inked a five-year partnership deal with ChildFund Kenya, a child-focused development organisation to promote sustainable development in the county.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by County Secretary Paul Wasanga and the ChildFund International president Anne Goddard on Friday at Emali seeks to;

Improve livelihoods by strengthening families’ economic security and self-sufficiency. ChildFund working with the County Government of Makueni will help youths and families start their own businesses or train for marketable careers which can lead to community-wide changes and opportunities;

Implement hygiene, water and sanitation projects in the county in order to increase access to clean water sources for domestic and agriculture use, and to reduce emergence and spread of waterborne and water related diseases;

Increase access to educational opportunities for all children and youth by supporting the development of child-friendly ECDE Centers, capacity building caregivers on responsive parenting, payment of bursaries for orphans and vulnerable children, and providing life skills training and mentorship support to adolescents and youth;

Promote primary health care services by implementing responsive parenting education and nutrition programs and

Create safe spaces in the community where children are nurtured and protected. This will be done mainly through the strengthening community based child protection mechanisms and linking them to the formal systems.

Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau who witnessed the signing of the MoU commended ChildFund Kenya for their good work of lifting the lives of the people of Makueni especially the children and welcomed the partnership.

President Goddard said the deal will see them achieve more development for the people saying that that they were happy to bring on board partners from the government and other organisations.

“We realise we can’t do much alone and that is why we are willing to partner with local and international organisations,” said Goddard.

Makueni inks deal with Centre for Health Solutions for healthcare promotion

Makueni County has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Centre for Health Solutions Kenya (CHS-Kenya) to advance its quality of healthcare promotion.

The MoU, signed by governor Kivutha Kibwana and CHS-Kenya Chief Executive Officer Paul Wekesa on Monday seeks to:

Support in implementation and expansion of high quality HIV Care, prevention and treatment through training and capacity building activities, provision of commodities and other relevant assistance;

Provide technical advice to policy makers and to those in county health institutions that will deliver the services through the MoH;

Establish collaborative framework to institutionalize the use of evidence informed interventions through activities such as baseline assessments, program reviews and operations research;

Enhance support in monitoring activities of the National Tuberculosis Leprosy and Lung Disease (NTLD) Program through support, supervision and quarterly meetings.

The deal, according to governor Kibwana, is in line with the county government’s commitment to advance appropriate and rapid responses to the County’s HIV/AIDS epidemic and to health promotion in general.

The deal will cover 64 health facilities across the county, among them the sub county hospitals and the Makueni County Referral hospital.

Makueni inks a deal with Equality Now Africa on Gender Violence Response

Makueni County has inked a three-year partnership with Equality Now Africa, an international women’s rights organisation, to promote a multi-sectoral approach to response, prevention and management of Sexual Gender Based Violence in the County.

The deal, signed by Governor Kivutha Kibwana and Equality Now Director Africa Office Faiza Mohamed and witnessed by Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau on Thursday seeks to respond to and manage SGBV which is on the rise in Makueni with women and children most affected.

Kibwana termed GBV as a silent killer saying that several children were hurting and a lot of care is needed while handling their cases.

“GBV is a silent killer. We think there are so many kids hurting and this calls for professionalism while dealing with their cases because they can break or make their lives,” Kibwana noted.

As part of the MoU, Equality Now Africa will offer capacity building to county personnel on gender rights and the attendant legal framework providing for and protecting these rights; support and facilitate experiential learning of county personnel to design, plan and implement interventions to address sexual and gender based violence in the county.

The women’s rights organisation will also offer technical support in the development and review of county policies and legislation on gender mainstreaming and Sexual Gender Based violence policies and legislation including on Sexual and Gender Based Violence Management and Control.

The County Government of Makueni will, in accordance with the deal,support the development of key county policy and legislation addressing Sexual and Gender BasedViolence,gendermainstreaming and finance activities towards ending sexual violence in schools.

MAKUENI INITIATES LEGAL CLINIC ON LAND SUCCESSION.

In Kenya, inheriting land from a deceased family member requires following the country’s Laws of Succession — a process that demands documents like a death certificate, a clear list of beneficiaries and legal grants from the court.

For many families, these steps are often misunderstood, leading to endless disputes.

To bridge this gap, the County Government of Makueni on Monday held legal clinics on land succession at Kee Ward in Kaiti Sub County.

These clinics are open forums where residents learn from county legal experts and ask questions freely.

The Monday exercise, led by County Solicitor Jennifer M Kyumwa drew hundreds of locals eager to understand how to safeguard family property.

Kyumwa said the program is meant to empower families with knowledge and disclosed that similar events will be rolled out in other Wards.

Area MCA Ulbarnus Manzu and Lower Eastern LSK Chairperson Makau Mutua attended the event.

MAKUENI INCHES CLOSER TO FINALIZING COUNTY ENERGY POLICY

Makueni County, through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works, Housing and Energy, is one step away from finalizing its energy policy— a framework designed to promote clean, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions to support socio-economic development across the county.

The policy has been developed in partnership with Strathmore University, the World Resources Institute (WRI) and UK-PACT.

On Thursday 8th May 2025, the draft policy underwent validation by all relevant County Directors to ensure alignment with the county’s overall development agenda. The forum was chaired by Energy Chief Officer Eng. Naomi Nthambi and attended by Environment Chief Officer Dr. Geoffrey Muthoka.

The draft will next be reviewed by the Chief Officers, County Executive Committee, County Assembly and Community before its official launch.

MAKUENI IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VILLAGE ENTERPRISE DRAFTS POLICY TO EMPOWER ULTRA-POOR RESIDENTS

The Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services through the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) has concluded public participation on the Ultra Poor Graduation Policy, aimed at mobilizing resources to support extremely poor residents in building sustainable livelihoods.

This comprehensive framework provides a range of interventions designed to help the ultra-poor transition from severe social and financial exclusion to self-sufficient socio-economic participation. The Ultra Poor Graduation Policy combines immediate support to meet participants’ urgent needs with long-term investments in life skills and technical training, asset transfers, enterprise development, savings, and future planning.

Supported by Village Enterprise, the overarching goal of this policy is to empower financially excluded individuals to gain the capacity for financial borrowing from the Makueni County Empowerment Fund and other financial institutions, ultimately fostering sustainable livelihoods for ultra-poor families.