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NARIGP NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAUDS MAKUENI FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF WORLD BANK FUNDED PROJECT.

A delegation from the National Technical Advisory Committee for National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) has lauded Makueni for Successful Implementation of the project, saying that the county is ready to transition to the new project, National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project(NAVCDP).

NAVCDP is a Government of Kenya project with co-funding from the World Bank and the National Government. The project will be implemented in 32 counties, Makueni among them, targeting to increase market participation and value addition for farmers in select value chains.

James Muturi who led the team said that NAVCDP will build on the strong foundation laid by NARIGP emphasizing the importance of the assessment.

Muturi was wowed by some of the interventions to farmers which have led to improved livelihoods and agricultural productivity.

The team, hosted by Makueni Agriculture and Livestock Joyce Mutua on Tuesday visited Kilombo dam in Kiima-Kiu Kalanzoni Ward, Kwa Nguni Watershed Sustainable Land Management project in Kako-Waia Ward and Kilome Farmers Sacco.

Makueni Agricultural Show

Government of Makueni for the first time on 16^th and 17^th June, 2017 held ground breaking Agricultural and Trade affair at Makindu show ground an event which was opened by HE Pro. Kivutha Kibwana aimed at letting people of Makueni County be in the know and bringing general education to the footsteps of the community.

The Department of Water, Irrigation and & Environment actively participated by engaging their valued stakeholders in Environment and Natural resource Conservation and management rich Makueni county by exhibiting on successes and innovative technologies able to propel their community to achieve sustainable natural resource conservation and management as well as foster co-existence of human and wildlife in their biodiversity.

Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute and Anglican Development Services Eastern were some of the stakeholders which were invited by Assistant Director, Environment via a letter dated 12^thJune, 2017. The Directorate of Environment had the opportunity to show to the community all that they have done through a documentary that was done by the directorate among many things.

The event which took two days of entertainment and education from the Department of W.I & E and Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute and Anglican Development Services Eastern since were some of the stakeholders which were invited by Assistant Director, Environment via a letter dated 12^th June, 2017.

Prepared by Claudia Katheu.

MAKUENI, AFA LAUNCH WORKSHOP ON COFFEE REGULATIONS TO ENHANCE SECTOR GROWTH

The County Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), held a sensitization workshop on the Coffee Regulations 2019 on Wednesday as part of broader strategy to rejuvenate the coffee sector in Makueni, aiming to enhance the livelihoods of coffee farmers and contribute to the county’s economic growth.

The workshop targeted selected extension officers and members of the Kikima Cooperative Society board. The training aimed to acquaint them with the regulations and emphasized the importance of the new regulations in improving coffee quality and production efficiency.

The partners discussed various aspects of the regulation framework including standards for cultivation, processing, and marketing of coffee. The regulations also cover the rights and responsibilities of farmers, cooperative societies, and other stakeholders in the coffee industry.

The extension officers and cooperative society members will disseminate the knowledge gained to farmers, to ensure widespread compliance and benefit. As the sensitization program rolls out across the. coffee growing areas in Makueni, it is expected to boost farmers’ productivity and profitability.

The workshop, held in Kikima, was graced by Livestock and Cooperative Development Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza and County Director of Agriculture Mary Muteti.

Makueni, ADS-Kenya Ink a Deal to Enhance Employability for Women and Youth in Agriculture

At least 600 youth and women from Makueni will benefit from Green Business Project (GBP), courtesy of a 1-year deal signed on Wednesday by Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and Anglican Development Services Kenya (Ads Kenya) Programs Manager Charles Macharia.

The purpose of the GBP is to create economic opportunities and enhance employability for Youth and Women of productive age through green skills and capacity development along the target value chains namely horticulture, dairy and poultry.

The youth beneficiaries will be trained at ATC-Kwakathoka for a period of 3 months and placed on attachment thereafter for 3 months at the same center. The women-organized groups will participate in field-based training. This will be preceded by a competitive recruitment process.

After successful training and assessment, successful beneficiaries will partially be supported with start-up capital.

The signing of the partnership was witnessed by Agriculture Executive Mrs Joyce Mutua and ADS-Kenya Programs Officer Sophia Gakii.

MAKUENI ACPA REPORT 2017-2018

This report highlights the findings of the assessment carried out by Prestige Management Solutions on the Annual Capacity Performance Assessment (ACPA) under the Kenya Devolution Support Programme (KDSP). KDSP is a Programme jointly funded by the National Government and World Bank.

MAKUENI ACHIEVES MILESTONE IN MATERNAL HEALTH, RECORDS ZERO PPH DEATHS SINCE 2022

Makueni, once among the top ten counties with the highest maternal death rates, has made strides in maternal healthcare. Since 2022, no maternal deaths caused by postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) have been reported in its public hospitals.

This achievement is attributed to innovative healthcare practices and the adoption of Heat-Stable Carbetocin, a World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended drug proven to prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.

The county has also embraced calibrated drapes, a specialized tool that helps measure blood loss during childbirth.

These clear drapes, placed on delivery beds, enable accurate monitoring, allowing medical personnel to respond swiftly to abnormal bleeding.

On Tuesday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. flagged off 11,000 calibrated drapes for distribution to health facilities across the county, further bolstering this initiative.

The governor emphasized his commitment to ensuring that women in Makueni deliver safely and return home with healthy babies.

He hosted members of the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, who visited the county to learn from its best practices in managing PPH.

The visiting delegation, mainly from Norway and Italy, is dedicated to mobilizing donor governments and strengthening collaborations to improve access to quality healthcare globally.

Makueni is among the first counties in Kenya to adopt a comprehensive approach to combating PPH, combining the use of Heat-Stable Carbetocin with calibrated drapes.

These efforts are part of the “Accelerating Measurable Progress and Leveraging Investments for Postpartum Hemorrhage Impact (AMPLI-PHHI)” program, a partnership between the county and Jhpiego. This initiative aims to drastically reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates associated with PPH.

MAKINDU SUB-COUNTY HOSPITAL IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST HEALTH FACILITIES IN MAKUENI.

Makindu Sub-County Hospital is one of the busiest health facilities in Makueni, providing life-saving care not only to Makueni residents but also to patients from neighboring counties, including Kajiado, Taita Taveta, and Kitui.

Strategically located along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, the hospital frequently handles road traffic accident victims.

Recognizing this challenge, the County Government established a state-of-the-art trauma center at the hospital.

This development enhances the hospital’s capacity to deliver timely and specialized care to patients in critical condition. The Ministry of Health

Makindu Residents Give Nod to Draft Town Plan

Makindu town residents have given a thumps up to a draft town plan prepared by the Department of Lands and Urban Planning and presented to them for validation.

The Planning exercise was commissioned in April by Lands Executive Committee Member Dr Sonia Nzilani. A draft of the plan was presented for public input on Wednesday at Makindu Social Hall.

Residents have 60 days from (9th August, 2023) to submit their inputs before the plan is presented to the County Assembly for approval.

The public participation exercise was led by Dr. Sonia and her Devolution counterpart Japheth Mang’oka. In attendance was the County Attorney Stanley Nthiwa, area MCA Steve Kilonzo, business community, plot owners, clergy and residents of the town.

Makindu residents endorse Ziwani township Plan

Makindu residents have endorsed an urban development plan for Ziwani area in the outskirts of Makindu town.

This paves way for approval by the County Executive Committee and the assembly before allocation of plots.

The plan, covering 81 acres of land curved from Kiboko B settlement Scheme and earmarked for a proposed trading centre, was drawn by the County Government’s Lands department following a request by the National Lands Commission.

The residents accredited the plan on Monday during a public participation forum on the same led by governor Kivutha Kibwana and NLC Commissioner Rose Musyoka.

The plan has identified 288 plots for Commercial, residential and office space, while 30 plots have been earmarked for Public utilities among them a school, health facility, cemetery, sporting facility among others.

The latest development will allow plot allottees access title deeds and subsequently development of the area which has been idle and prone to grabbing by land cartels.

Kibwana and the NLC commissioner also ordered for the planning of an earmarked 67 acre trading centre at Ikoyo, between Makindu and Kiboko, which has witnessed incessant controversies by people claiming illegal ownership of part of the public land.

MAKINDU CHRONIC CARE CENTER COMMISSIONED TO ENHANCE INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES

Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili on Wednesday led the official commissioning of the Makindu Chronic Care Center, a facility designed to offer integrated treatment for chronic illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.

The center, constructed with the support of AIDS Healthcare Foundation Global, is set to serve over 2,000 patients. It promotes a model of care that integrates services under one roof, aiming to reduce stigma, especially among people living with HIV, while improving access to quality healthcare.

The facility is a key milestone in Makueni County’s broader health agenda and aligns with global healthcare trends that focus on comprehensive care supported by modern information and communication technologies.

As part of the county’s preventive health efforts, Mulili emphasized the focus on young people, identifying the “triple threat” of new HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence as critical areas of concern.

The new center is expected to play a crucial role in managing these interconnected health issues through early intervention and support.

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation Global Chief of Operations Laura Boudreau praised the county for embracing integrated healthcare, noting the shift away from fragmented services to more coordinated care that ensures patients receive the treatment they need efficiently and without discrimination.