News

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.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH KEY INSTITUTIONS TO BOOST HEALTHCARE SERVICES

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance healthcare services in the county.

The agreements, signed with The Open University of Kenya,Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), and North Star Alliance, will strengthen medical research, capacity building, and disease prevention efforts.

Under the partnership with The Open University of Kenya, the Department of Health will facilitate student placements and research opportunities in health sciences within county health facilities.

The collaboration aims to bolster medical education, enhance research, and apply scientific knowledge to improve patient care.

Meanwhile, the agreement with CHAK will support the implementation of comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs in select faith-based and county health facilities.

This partnership will run until September 2026, emphasizing efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the region.

North Star Alliance will as well work alongside the County Health Department to reduce the prevalence of communicable diseases, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The partnership will focus on delivering health and safety services at the Roadside Wellness Centre in Emali and integrating key population-friendly services in selected health facilities

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH FAO TO ENHANCE DIGITAL LAND GOVERNANCE

Makueni’s Department of Lands has partnered with the European Union through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) under the Digital Land Governance Programme to improve land tenure security and enhance land administration effectiveness.

This partnership aims to upgrade the county’s Land Information Management System (LIMS) by auditing its performance, identifying gaps and opportunities, and incorporating emerging Information, Communication, and Technological advancements in digital land governance.

According to Lands and Urban Planning Chief Officer Jackson Daudi, technical optimization of the system will enable users to register, transfer, subdivide, process searches, and place caveats on plots virtually. This will reduce operational costs and increase transparency in land revenue management.

In the Financial Year 2023/2024, Makueni hit the Sh 1 billion mark in Own Source Revenue collection, with land-based revenue through LIMS being a major contributor.

MAKUENI PARTNERS WITH AIC CURE HOSPITAL AND ARD TO BOOST PEDIATRIC CARE, WATER GOVERNANCE, AND CLIMATE ACTION.

On Monday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two key organizations: AIC Cure Children’s Hospital of Kenya and ARD, a prime contractor for USAID’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program.

AIC Cure Children’s Hospital of Kenya, a Christian non-profit organization, specializes in pediatric surgical care, focusing on children with physical and neurological disabilities.

This partnership aims to enhance the provision of ortho-pediatric surgeries and rehabilitation services for children with corrective physical disabilities at the Makueni County Referral Hospital and Makindu Sub-County Hospital.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration to improve access to these essential healthcare services.

Additionally, the county has entered into a partnership with ARD (WASH-FIN2) to bolster governance in the water and sanitation sector, improve service delivery, and mobilize financing for the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.

Makueni County is currently implementing FLLoCA activities, which aim to establish a national model for decentralizing funds to counties and empowering local communities to have a greater influence in addressing climate-related challenges.

MAKUENI PARTICIPATES IN REGIONAL TOURISM EXPO, AIMING FOR GLOBAL TOURISM MAP

In a dynamic display of tourism richness and potential, Makueni County took center stage in the just concluded East Africa Regional Expo held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi, from 20th to 22nd November 2023.

The County Government, driven by the Tourism Directorate, played a pivotal role by setting up a vibrant booth. This showcased a diverse array of locally crafted products, enticing potential tourists with a glimpse of the region’s unique offerings. Visitors were treated to a preview, where the county’s hospitality facilities and alluring attraction sites were explained in detail.

With an ambitious goal to position Makueni County as a must-visit tourist destination, this strategic participation aimed to secure a spot on both the regional and global tourism maps. The County Government envisions not only promoting its cultural heritage but also fostering economic growth, ultimately enhancing the livelihoods of its citizens.

MAKUENI PARTICIPATES AT KAM SUMMIT, SHOWCASING LOCAL INNOVATION AND GROWTH

Makueni has seized an opportunity to participate in the 7th Annual Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) Summit, which kicked off on Tuesday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

The four-day event dubbed the Changamka Shopping Festival is organized by KAM in partnership with the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry.

Under the theme “Celebrating the Ingenuity of Kenya’s Manufacturing Sector,” the summit provides an opportunity for Small and Medium Enterprises to showcase their products, innovations and technologies, and network with industry players to gain exposure in the wider market.

In an effort to promote Makueni, the county government booth is displaying a variety of items, including value chain addition-farm produce (Kalamba Mango Juice), clothing, accessories, home décor and beauty products that showcase Makueni’s creativity and growing manufacturing industry.

Speaking on Tuesday at the county booth, the Trade, Industry, Marketing, Culture and Tourism CECM Dr. Sonia Nzilani lauded the festival’s significance. “This festival is a crucial initiative aimed at raising public awareness, supporting local industries, and creating job opportunities. It aligns with the Buy Kenya, Build Kenya strategy, which encourages the consumption of locally-made products and supports sustainable economic growth,” Dr. Nzilani remarked.

With over 100 SMEs participating, Makueni County’s involvement underscores its commitment to nurturing invention, local talent and entrepreneurship, and driving the county’s economic development through the promotion of homegrown products.

MAKUENI PARAVOLLEYBALL TEAM ROARS IN KITUI ON MASHUJAA DAY

As part of the #MashujaaDay2025 celebrations, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Arts, and Sports invited the Makueni Paravolleyball Team to Kitui for a friendly match against their Kitui counterparts.

The Makueni team triumphed with an emphatic 3–0 sets victory, earning a cash award of KES 500,000. This outstanding performance underscores the county’s growing sporting prowess, powered by strong grassroots governance and talent development structures, a key pillar of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr administration.

We proudly celebrate the Makueni Paravolleyball Team as true #Mashujaa

MAKUENI OPENS THE FLOOR TO CHILDREN’S VOICES WITH LAUNCH OF KENYA CHILDREN’S ASSEMBLY

The Government of Makueni County has taken a significant step in strengthening child participation in governance following the launch of the county chapter of the Kenya Children’s Assembly.

The Assembly is a structured platform that brings children together to deliberate on issues affecting their lives, including education, health, protection, and overall wellbeing. It mirrors formal governance systems, with elected child leaders taking up roles such as Governor, Speaker, and Clerk—offering young people a practical introduction to leadership, representation, and democratic processes as well as influence child policy development.

The establishment of the Makueni chapter means that children in the county now have an organized avenue to participate meaningfully in development. It also opens the door for their representation at the national level, where they join peers from across the country to engage on broader issues and contribute to national discourse.

The launch was graced by County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, alongside officers from the State Department for Children Services, at Wote Greenpark on Tuesday.