News

MAKUENI EMBRACES TELE-SURGERY IN NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH PROXIMIE

Department of Health Services is exploring the use of advanced telepresence technology to revolutionize surgical procedures across its health facilities.

The technology will allow surgeries to be recorded in both video and audio formats, enabling real-time collaboration and continuous learning for medical teams.

As part of the initiative, sub-county hospitals are being prepared to adopt the new tele-surgery platform, marking a huge step toward modernizing healthcare delivery in the county.

In a move to further enhance maternal health, the initiative is also introducing the “Run for Her” campaign, which focuses on raising awareness about postpartum hemorrhage,one of the leading causes of maternal deaths.

The campaign seeks to strengthen health systems and safeguard the lives of mothers throughout the county.

A team from Proximie, a global leader in virtual surgical collaboration, held conversation with Makueni’s medical officers and hospital superintendents.

The discussions were led by Shannon Shibata Germanos, Proximie’s Head of Global Health, who demonstrated how the platform empowers healthcare professionals to learn faster, share expertise, and receive real-time surgical guidance,even in remote facilities.

According toHealth Services ECM Dr. Paul Musila, the technology will enable doctors to observe surgeries remotely, adopt modern techniques, and receive instant expert support.

He further said the integration of telepresence tools is expected to transform surgical care and improve patient outcomes across Makueni County.

MAKUENI EMBARKS ON COUNTYWIDE HR AND SKILLS AUDIT UNDER KDSP II PROGRAM

The Makueni County Government has partnered with the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) to roll out a comprehensive Human Resource and Skills Audit across its entire workforce.

The three-month exercise is being conducted under the Kenya Devolution Support Program II (KDSP II), a World Bank-financed initiative aimed at enhancing county performance through institutional strengthening and improved service delivery.

The audit will target all county employees, including those on permanent and pensionable terms, contract staff, and personnel in semi-autonomous government agencies, sub-county, ward, and sub-ward levels within the executive arm of government.

During the inception meeting, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili emphasized that the exercise is designed to identify employee strengths and skills gaps, and to support workforce development by aligning staff competencies with departmental functions.

She reassured staff that the process is not a punitive measure but a constructive initiative to build a capable and efficient workforce.

IHRM, the professional body mandated to carry out the audit, has committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality throughout the exercise.

Makueni is among the counties that qualified for the KDSP II grant, a performance-based initiative funded by the World Bank through the performance-for-results approach.

Speaking during a briefing to County Executive Committee Members, County service board chair,IHRM officials, Chief Officers, Directors, and HR personnel, Devolution CECM Nicholas Nzioka underlined the importance of the audit in addressing longstanding human resource challenges in counties.

He noted that undertaking the exercise is a key condition for accessing further funding under the World Bank-supported program.

MAKUENI EARNS TOP HONOURS FOR EXCELLENCE IN INTERNAL GOVERNANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Makueni has been feted by the Institute of Internal Auditors of Kenya for achieving the highest standards in internal governance and risk management.

Makueni scooped position one in the County Government and Assembly category in the inaugural awards ceremony staged in Nairobi.

This recognition reflects the county’s commitment to upholding high standards and innovation in internal auditing practices.

The Auditor General, Ms Nancy Gathungu who was the keynote speaker noted that the awards were to recognize organizations and individuals that had achieved high standards in Internal Audit Governance, innovations in the adoption of Internal Auditing standards, the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF), Risk Management Framework and high-performing audit teams.

Makueni County Executive Audit Committee chairperson, Felix Kyengo (CPA) received the award on behalf of the county.

MAKUENI DRAWS WAJIR, KAJIADO IN MEN FOOTBALL AT KYISA 2024

Makueni Men Football Team will play their KYISA opening game against Wajir on Tuesday in Pool C that also features Kajiado County.

The women team will square it out with Siaya on Tuesday before meeting Nyeri on Wednesday.

In Men Volleyball, Makueni has been pooled with Kilifi, Siaya, Nakuru and Nyeri. The Lady volleyballers have been drawn together with Siaya, Kilifi and Nyeri.

The games are taking place in Malindi, Kilifi County.

MAKUENI DG LUCY MULILI, TOP UNICEF OFFICIALS VISIT PROJECTS IN WOTE

Visiting Unicef delegates on Friday accompanied Makueni Deputy Governor, Lucy Mulili on a visit to Matheani Primary School to explore partnership opportunities between the County and the organisation.

The tour, which began with a visit to Unoa Primary School on Thursday, is focused on identifying how the County government and Unicef can work together to enhance Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) programs.

Key areas of potential collaboration include infrastructure development to improve learning facilities such as classrooms, sanitation and play areas and creating a more supportive environment for young learners. Also on the cards is the strengthening of teacher-training and capacity-building initiatives, equipping ECDE educators with modern techniques and resources aiming at boosting the quality of education for early learners.

Additionally, both parties are considering health and nutrition programs to support the overall well-being of children.

MAKUENI DEPUTY GOVERNOR LUCY MULILI ANNOUNCES SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME FOR ECDE WITHIN MAKUENI.

Makueni deputy governor H.E Lucy Mulili has lauded ACK Wote Township Primary school for posting exemplary performance in 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and grade 6 (KPSEA) exams.

Mulili who spoke on Friday during the school’s prize giving ceremony revealed that the County government had set aside adequate budgetary allocation for ECDE infrastructural scaling up and implementation.

Mulili further announced that the County government was at an advanced stage of scheduling an elaborate school feeding programme and with its policy near completion.

Mulili also noted that together with governor Mutula Jnr, they were beginning to fastrack on implementation of community centric projects so as to bring services closer to the locals.

Mulili hailed the class of 2022 for its stellar performance by recording a mean score of 366 marks and transitioning almost 100% of the pupils to high schools.

“Our children are our rich heritage and the fact that this school is consistently known for very good performance over the years, its a statement of visionary leadership” Mulili noted.

She further encouraged the parents to take up the responsibility of shaping their kids character once they are at home for holidays.

18 candidates scored 400 marks and above with 135 pupils scoring between 350 and 399 while 48 others scored between 300 and 349.

MAKUENI DEPUTY GOVERNOR INSPECTS SH13M WATER PROJECT IN THANGE

Makueni County deputy governor Lucy Mulili on Tuesday inspected the ongoing Sh13 million Water Project in Mbulutini, Thange Ward, in a bid to fast-track improved access to clean water.

Accompanied by area MCA Eric Katumo, the Deputy Governor assessed progress on the project, which is funded under the Flloca programme in partnership with the County Government of Makueni.

The project includes construction of a 100-cubic-metre distribution tank at Thange Market, additional 20,000-litre storage tanks for surrounding villages, and a sand dam within Thange Forest to boost water harvesting and groundwater recharge.

Thee project is expected to ease chronic water shortages in Thange and neighbouring areas once complete.

MAKUENI DEPUTY GOVERNOR HANDS TOOLS OF TRADE TO 90 YOUNG PEOPLE.

Atleast 90 young people from across the county have been handed tools of trade by the County Government of Makueni to start their own businesses.

The 90 have undergone an intensive 8-week on-the-job training under the supervision of identified master craftsmen through a program dubbed UJUZI TEKE TEKE by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services.

The program, according to Gender Executive Committee Member Eng. Peter Mumo, is geared towards bridging the capital gap in entrepreneurial development by young people.

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili who graced the event held at the Makueni Integrated Vocational Education Centre, Wote, said the county government aims to create a critical mass of skilled man power who can steer the county economy through self-employment and provision of cheap skilled labour.

MAKUENI DEPLOYS SMART METERS TO END NON-REVENUE WATER.

While Makueni faces higher water demand than the supply capacity, water service providers have struggled with the menace of unaccounted for water (Non-Revenue water).

Statistics from the three water supply companies: WOWASCO, KIBWASCO and MBOWASCO indicate that non-revenue water accounts for 30 percent of the total water produced and which never reach consumers.

This menace has continued to pile pressure on the county government’s purse as it invests more resources in water infrastructure development to meet the daily demand of 60,000,000 liters. Current water production stands at 30,000,000 according to Water Executive Committee Member John Kieti.

To quell the non-revenue water problem, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has instructed water companies in the county to invest in technology such as smart meters, bulk water meters, high-density polyethylene pipes and leakage detectors.

The roll out of the smart meters has kicked off with 31 water points done in collaboration with Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) and Water Mission already installed. This has recorded a huge success and the water department plans to replicate this in all water dispensing points.

The smart meters have also reduced revenue leakages as customers use prepaid token cards or mobile money wallets to pay for water drawn. This means that all the water one draws is equivalent to the amount of token points swiped, and all the cash goes to a bank account.

To enhance the smart metering program, the county government has secured Sh 39M funding from USAID’s Sustainable, Transformational, and Accessible WASH Interventions (STAWI) project. The funding will support the three water service providers, each getting Sh 13M, to install the smart meters in all their water points across the county.

MAKUENI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES COLLABORATES WITH NHIF TO ENHANCE REVENUE COLLECTION.

[WOTE] May 14,2024

Makueni Department of Health Services Collaborates with NHIF to Enhance Revenue Collection

In a move to enhance own source revenue in Makueni County, the Department of Health Services, led by Ag. CECM Ms. Elizabeth Muli, held a consultative meeting on Tuesday with NHIF Wote Branch, headed by Branch Manager Mr. David Kimanzi.

Key initiatives discussed included:

– Ensuring all hospitals are able to register NHIF patients across 24-hours in all hospitals.

– Collaborating with NHIF to correctly classify all hospitals to their operational levels (Level 4 and Level 5)

– Ensuring timely claims processing through weekly submissions by all facilities.

The Department of Health Services expressed appreciation for NHIF’s support, while NHIF reiterated its commitment to efficient claims processing despite high workloads.