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Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana has pleaded with all the residents to make themselves available and share the required information as demanded of them by the census team during the forthcoming 2019 Kenya population and housing census. The exercise will commence on 24^th – 25^th August.  

Speaking during a courtesy call, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics delegation head Mr. Stephen Kakungu assured the governor of a continuous monitoring of the collected data through dash boards, comprehensive in-built checks and post enumeration exercise to ensure that the information collected is complete, accurate and factual. For the first time, the census data will be captured electronically through a mobile telephony device.

Kibwana also held talks with Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Kenyan alumni that is in Makueni to share knowledge on rural development with a focus on a people centered sustainable development.

“People are responsible for their own development, leaders are just but facilitators. If Kenya wants to experience a radical socio-economic change, then she must borrow from other countries that have made it such as Korea.” Said Kibwana in a meeting held at his office on Tuesday.

KOICA concerns itself with poverty reduction, empowering women in farming, quality and inclusive educational initiatives and youth empowerment.

Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana has told contractors working on county projects that his government will not tolerate any form of corruption and shoddy jobs.

He said the county will deal ruthlessly with staff found engaging in malpractices and urged businessmen awarded contracts to report any extortion attempts by county staff directly to his office.

The governor was speaking at Acacia Hotel in Wote during a meeting with major contractors awarded tenders by the department of roads, transport and infrastructure.

“We will not tolerate incidences of corruption and blackmail. I urge you to report cases of corruption to my office directly. In the past we have been ruthless with corrupt people and even now if we get them we will eject them from the system,”Prof Kibwana said.

He said that they should also report cases of intentional missing files adding that the county government will facilitate contractors to do their jobs and pick their money without any blackmail as long as they have done a good job.

The governor however indicated that the county government has had challenges dealing with some contractors in the past adding that creating a forum where the parties could meet and engage would help address emerging issues.

Said Prof Kibwana:“We have had challenges working with some contractors. It is important to create a platform where we can talk together so that we can understand each other.”

County Secretary Paul Wasanga urged the contractors to employ locals in wards where the contracts are being undertaken as part of the government’s initiative to ensure part of the money goes back to the people.
“When you go to the ground please give some of the jobs to the locals. That way we will get part of the money back to the people.When you do that they will even protect your equipment, ”the CS said.

Roads Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni who was present warned contractors against sub-letting contracts awarded to them without seeking clearance from the county government.

“When we request full compliance with PMC we urge you to cooperate with us and please don’t compromise the supervision. Where you are required to undertake some tests please comply,” he said.

Finance ECM Mary Kimanzi said the Makueni government has had no problem paying contractors explaining that where paperwork has been properly done payments have been processed in good time.

She however said that drip dropping cash flow and a cumbersome technology has made the process more bureaucratic but added that everything has always been done to ensure payments are processed.

“Because we always work with budget we don’t have a problem paying on time. It is the process that sometimes takes a bit longer,” Ms Kimanzi said

Makueni governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana on Saturday evening joined Muslim faithful for an Iftar at Wote.

Speaking at the event hosted at  Jamia-Al-Masjid Mosque Prof Kibwana noted that both Muslims and Christians in Makueni have shown unity and love,adding that such virtues are helpful in building the nation.

He further observed that Islamic madrasa classes are helpful in inculcating spiritual norishment to young ones adding that it helps them understand the teachings of the Quran.

“My administration has in the past helped build ECDE classes, this will be replicated equally we will assist in building  madrasa classes for our muslim children in the County,”Prof Kibwana promised.

The governor encouraged them to apply for competitive county jobs, saying  that all residents across the country stand equal opportunities including access to jobs.

He also said that his government will include members of the Muslim community in the County Economic Forum.

Devolution and public service Executive Committee Member Dr.Julius Kaloi who also graced the occasion, noted that Muslims have demonstrated faithfulness,respect and love always not only during the Holy month of Ramadan.

Makueni county government and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) have launched a partnership on road safety by unveiling a County Transport and Safety Committee.

The county is listed among the top ten in last year’s road accident report where it is ranked fifth after Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa and Machakos with 148 fatalities booked within its road networks last year.

The committee will be responsible for overseeing the management and regulation of the road transport system within the county and to run programs that will sensitize the public on road safety.

The committee will also be tasked to implement county specific road safety strategies in consultation with the county and the NTSA in order to check death causing and paralyzing road crashes.

The committee will in consultation with relevant departments within the county develop a framework for post-crash including pre-hospital care and para-medical services in accident prone areas and also recommend legislative and administrative improvements needed to improve road transport and safety in the county.

The committee was inaugurated by governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana and NTSA deputy director, safety strategies and county coordination Dr.Duncan Kibogog.

“This is an initiative we want to support as a county government since transport is a function shared with the national government,”Prof Kibwana stated.

Prof Kibwana said that his government has nominated representatives from various transport sectors including boda boda and matatu groups to the committee.

He regretted that his county is featured among the worst accident causers and said that a proper campaign to reduce deadly accidents in the area must now be initiated.

He however indicated that the county may have found itself in the accidents’ blacklist because about 150 kilometers of the northern corridor on Mombasa road notorious for some of the worst accidents in the country fall within the county.

Makueni county, the governor said is setting up a trauma center at Makindu which will be of help to accident victims.

Dr Kibogog said that county governments will play a crucial role in the campaign to reduce road carnage adding that new strategies are required to deal with the menace.

He said that the boda boda sector is a major contributor to the number fatal crashes recorded adding that training of cyclists is key to reducing the number of accidents the country.

“It astonishing that road accidents is the ninth leading cause of death globally and that is why we must all be concerned and do something about it,” said the NTSA official.

Dr Kibogog further noted that last year 2,919 fatalities were reported in Kenya.

Makueni governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana and his Machakos counterpart Dr Alfred Mutua have publicly reconciled their past political differences promising to work together.

The two who spoke during a funds drive  in aid of Shine Star Secondary school in Makindu said they will work together to develop the community calling on other leaders to join them.

Prof Kibwana and Dr Mutua worked for different political groupings in the last General

Elections forcing them to vigorously campaign against each other.

The Makueni governor who is also the chairman of Wiper party was at the forefront campaigning for Nasa in the region while Dr Mutua who is the Maendeleo Chap Chap leader worked for the ruling Jubilee Party.

It was Dr Mutua who twinkled first extending a public handshake to a willing Prof Kibwana during the event at Makindu sending the crowd into cheers.

“I want to ask Governor Kivutha Kibwana to forgive me for any wrongs I might have committed against him and again request him for a handshake as a sign of unity,” Dr Mutua said

The two governors shook hands with Dr Mutua asking for political forgiveness and vowed to forge a purposeful unity for the betterment of locals.

Prof  Kibwana said that he was in agreement with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka that there was no need for Ukambani leaders to engage in political fights adding that it was time to focus on development.

He further said that as the wiper chairman he had no intentions of blocking Dr Mutua from contesting the presidency in 2022

“As the chairman of Wiper, I am in agreement with our party leader who recently said that we don’t have to fight here at home. I know you are both hunting, we are not blocking anyone,” Prof Kibwana said.

Governor Mutua reiterated that his ambition to contest the presidency in 2022 was on course.

“After 10 years as a governor in Machakos, I will be seeking your support to become President come 2022, just like a student who after form four proceeds to the university,” Dr Mutua said.