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MAKUENI COUNTY KICKS OFF 2024 MUSIC AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL.

Makueni County Music and Cultural Festival 2024 has officially been launched today at GreenPark Wote. The event highlights the county’s commitment to promoting cultural and musical development.

With 166 entries from various wards, the festival showcases a wide range of local talents including music and dance, elocution, and theatre and film.

The festival themed, “Utamaduni Wetu ni Nguzo ya Utajiri Wetu”, was opened by Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism CECM Dr. Sonia Nzilani. Nzilani stated that, “the county government is dedicated to safeguarding our cultural heritage and advancing the arts as a pathway to economic prosperity.”

Top performers from todays event will advance to the 97th Kenya Music and Cultural Festival set for December 1-10, 2024, in Taita Taveta.

The CECM was accompanied by Chief Officer, Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani and Culture Director Mutua Mulonzya.

MAKUENI COUNTY JOINS FORCES WITH NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA AND NATURAL PRODUCT INDUSTRY TO DRIVE CULTURAL INNOVATION

A dynamic collaboration between the Trade and Culture directorate, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Natural Product Industry recently unfolded during a three-day workshop at the Kilimani Breeze Hotel. The workshop’s central aim was to validate the Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Innovation Bank (InKiBank) while strategically identifying and prioritizing IK assets within Makueni County for cultural product development and eventual commercialization.

The workshop served as a melting pot of ideas, drawing together an eclectic mix of stakeholders. This included Makueni County’s energetic young culture champions, the esteemed Akamba Clans Governing Council of Elders, and key representatives from the County Assembly committees on Culture and Finance. Notably, various county departments, such as Finance, Trade, Tourism, and the County Attorney, played active roles, demonstrating a holistic approach to both cultural and economic advancement.

With robust participation from diverse sectors, the workshop emerged as a center for innovative thinking and strategic planning. Its overarching goal is to tap into the wealth of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage embedded within Makueni County. By prioritizing IK assets, the initiative aims to unlock fresh opportunities for cultural product development and sustainable commercialization, promising both economic growth and the preservation of the region’s rich cultural identity.

MAKUENI COUNTY IS REINFORCING ITS COMMITMENT TO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION (ECDE)

Makueni County is reinforcing its commitment to Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) with the construction of state-of-the-art classrooms, aligning with H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s infrastructure agenda.

During an inspection of ECDE projects in Kithasyu (Thange Ward), Yindundu and Silanga (Mtito Andei Ward), CECM for ICT, Education and Internship, Elizabeth Muli, alongside Chief Officer Irene Makau, urged contractors to expedite ongoing works.

Commending the progress, Elizabeth stressed the transformative impact of modern learning spaces on enrollment and early education quality, reaffirming the County’s dedication to world-class foundational learning.

MAKUENI COUNTY INVESTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Makueni County continues to strengthen Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) through the construction of state-of-the-art classrooms, aligned with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s focus on infrastructure development.

During a tour of the new ECDE classrooms in Tulimani Ward, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for ICT, Education, and Internship, Elizabeth Muli, called on contractors to fast-track the completion of ongoing projects.

She praised the progress made at Kyooni and Wambuli and urged for continued efforts to meet the county’s educational infrastructure goals.

She emphasized the importance of modern learning environments for boosting school enrollment and providing young students with the best start to their education.

This initiative supports the county’s broader strategy to enhance education facilities across the region.

She was accompanied by Chief Officer, ICT, Education, and Internship, Irene Makau among other departmental officers.

MAKUENI COUNTY INTENSIFIES GBV FIGHT WITH 2-DAY COMMUNITY SENSITISATION IN ILIMA WARD

Makueni’s Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has stepped up campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) aimed at eliminating gender inequalities and building safer communities.

On Friday, the department concluded a two-day sensitisation forum which brought together key stakeholders, community leaders, and anti-GBV champions as part of Makueni County’s broader strategy to strengthen GBV prevention, response, and coordination.

The forum was graced by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, CECM for Gender Sebastian Kyoni, MCA Bishop Jonathan Muthoka, and other officials. In her remarks, the Deputy Governor called on the community to take collective responsibility in ending GBV, while CECM Kyoni emphasized the need to shift mindsets and support survivors.

The forum focused on promoting cultural values of non-violence, respect, and solidarity. Key interventions included training anti-GBV champions, holding sensitisation forums, engaging men and youth, and offering legal and psychosocial support to survivors.

Participants took part in discussions, role plays, and survivor testimonies, enhancing community understanding of GBV issues.

Makueni County Initiates Revocation of Controversial Kiboko B Land Allotments

The department of Lands and Urban Planning has initiated plans to revoke allotment of 54 acres of land in Kiboko B settlement scheme, Kimboo village, over the controversial manner the land was allocated. The decision by Lands Executive Committee Member Sonia Nzilani to revoke the allotments stems from a 2015 National Land Commission advisory that the land allotted to some absentee ‘squatters’ in 1999 be subdivided and newly allotted to at least 41 squatters who had settled on it. The re-allocation was carried out in 2019 for PLOT NO.718 KIBOKO ‘B’, PLOT NO.719 KIBOKO ‘B’, PLOT NO.720 KIBOKO ‘B’ but the process was hijacked by a cartel of wealthy individuals who have since worked on evicting the rightful squatters from the three parcels of land.  Dr. Sonia has however recommended revocation of the 2019 re-allocation exercise and said the land will be re-allocated afresh to the list of squatters identified by NLC in 2015 and other deserving ones after a thorough verification exercise.

MAKUENI COUNTY IMPOSES 60-DAY BAN ON SAND HARVESTING IN KILOME SUB-COUNTY

Makueni County has imposed a 60-day ban on all sand harvesting and utilization activities in Kilome Sub-County, effective immediately.

The directive was issued through an Executive Order signed on 1st October, 2025, by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

The governor has tasked the Makueni Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority with reorganizing sand operations in the area and ensuring full compliance within the specified period.

The moratorium follows sustained public outcry over unregulated sand harvesting in the Sub-County.

MAKUENI COUNTY HOUSING COMMITTEE APPOINTED

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. appoints Cosmas J. Maweu as Chair, County Housing Committee, alongside members Jacinta Mwikali Mbilo, Peterson Mwiu Kimweli and Purity Mwikali Mutisya, following County Assembly approval.

The committee will oversee housing policies and projects and ensure affordable and sustainable housing development in the County.

MAKUENI COUNTY HOLDS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING FOR OND RAINS

Makueni County is privileged to host over 60 participants from across Kenya’s 47 Counties, gathered to develop and enhance their search and rescue skills.

17 of Makueni firefighters and emergency responders are undergoing the training at Kyamusoi dam to improve their aqua rescue capabilities.The team of trainees is undergoing water rescue simulations ahead of the October-November-December rains.

Key areas of training include adapted swimming endurance, boatriding, navigation, capsized boat rescue maneuvers, deep water search and rescue rock climbing ropes course, large water incident

The training is a collaboration between the KWS, Government of Makueni County, E plus Ambulance, Community Divers and KRCS.

Makueni was selected as the training ground due to her significant investment in disaster preparedness, equipping the Directorate of Special Programs with adequate water rescue equipment.

Makueni County Has Spent 265 Million on Bursaries and Scholarships since 2013

Ksh. 265 Million Spent on Bursaries and Scholarships since 2013

Makueni County government has spent Sh 265 million on bursaries and scholarships to support students from poor families to pursue education.

Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau said the government is putting more resources on education as it acknowledges it is an investment for the future of the county.

She said that the county has also been giving out full scholarships to bright needy students adding that 190 beneficiaries have so far been listed since 2013.

She further indicated that 79 students have further benefited from the program this financial year.

“The government of Makueni county acknowledges education as an investment for our children, being the most important aspect in empowering our youth to become responsible and productive citizens ,”the Deputy Governor said.

But the DG also told teachers that incidences of sexual assaults were in the increase and that it could compromise learning in the area.

She said that as part of the government’s decision to support empowerment on gender based violence and sexual abuses an outreach program will be initiated in schools.

“I am glad to inform you that the government of Makueni County is in the process of initiating a school outreach program for children in our county,” she said.

She said the program has been necessitated by the increasing cases of sexual and gender based violence incidences in the county including defilement, incest, rape, verbal and psychological abuse, domestic violence and sexual harassment among others.

The Deputy governor decried the alarming levels of sexual violence cases in Makueni County despite existence of legislations meant to deal harshly with perpetrators.

The Deputy Governor appreciated the role played by teachers in nurturing and mentoring young people adding that it required dedication to accomplish.

“I wish to state that teachers are role models and mentors and the kind of values that are inculcated in the children have direct effect on society and the development of our children,” said the Deputy Governor

She was speaking when she closed the sixth edition of the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association-Makueni Chapter at the Travelers Hotel in Mombasa.

She was accompanied by several top government officials led by County Secretary Paul Wasanga among others.

Mr Wasanga said that teachers are key to the county’s economic empowerment adding that governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana’s regime would work closely with them to achieve four key pillars of the county’s development plan.

“Our main agenda is to ensure economic empowerment for our people and to maske clean portable water available to households in Makueni,”Mr Wasanga told the Kessha members.