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MAKUENI FLAGS OFF MICRONUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and Vitamin Angels Founder Howard B. Schiffer on Thursday flagged off 7,200 bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), each containing 180 tablets, for distribution to 13 selected health facilities across Makueni County under a pilot programme.

The beneficiaries include Makueni County Referral Hospital, seven sub-county hospitals, three health centres and two dispensaries.

Makueni becomes the first county in the country to pilot the Multiple Micronutrient Supplements programme with support from a consortium comprising Vitamin Angels, IDE and Helen Keller International.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony attended by healthcare workers and members of the public at the Mother and Child Hospital, Governor Mutula highlighted the case of a baby born weighing 800 grams about 50 days ago, who has since gained weight to one kilogram.

The governor described the pain mothers endure while caring for premature babies in hospital as unimaginable, saying the introduction of the supplements would help address prematurity and other complications associated with preterm births.

He noted that the programme would ease the burden on families, as expectant mothers receiving the supplements are likely to deliver healthier babies, reducing the cost of treatment for malnourished children.

Governor Mutula added that teenage mothers, who are among the groups most affected by preterm deliveries, also stand to benefit from the intervention.

The governor further highlighted several healthcare interventions his administration has introduced to address life-threatening conditions, including the use of heat-stable carbetocin medication to prevent excessive bleeding among women after delivery.

He also noted that Makueni County Referral Hospital is now treating hydrocephalus, a condition in which babies are born with excess fluid in the brain.

Previously, patients had to seek treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital, but through a specialised clinic established by the county and the employment of a neurosurgeon, treatment is now available within Makueni.

Governor Mutula said his administration remains committed to improving healthcare services and pledged to continue working with development partners to advance the county’s development agenda.

Makueni flag to fly in East Africa Music, Drama fete

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has hosted the Kenya National Drama Festival spoken word winners, Brian Oscar, and Geoffrey Mutinda, from Vulueni secondary school in Mbitini.
The duo with the spoken word, “Namba Ya mwisho” performance through their credible storylines on challenges forcing youth into drug abuse with a happy ending of solutions out of psychoactive substances placed the County and the school at the national arena during the April 2023 film, drama fete in Mombasa.
While handing over the Makueni flag to the school where they will be representing Kenya in the East Africa Music, Dance and Drama festival in Arua, Northern Uganda, Governor Mutula encouraged the students to bring win-back home challenging learners to always embrace co-curriculum activities.
 

MAKUENI FIRST LADY GIFTS MAKONGO SPECIAL SCHOOL EARLY CHRISTMAS.

Makueni County First Lady Makueni – Anita Mutula , extended her generosity to Makongo Special School for the Deaf, providing an early Christmas gift as part of a larger initiative of supporting the needy. This event was part of Anita Mutula Foundation’s outreach program, in collaboration with Mwatu FM, whereby the donations included essential supplies coupled with a heartwarming gesture of sharing a meal with the children.

The First Lady emphasized the importance of giving with love and sustaining efforts to support vulnerable groups through partnerships.

She said there was need for comprehensive care for Persons With Disabilities(PWDs) and quality interventions, such as the provision of assistive devices and addressing the nutritional needs of PWDs.

The event was further supported by Kibwezi Well-wishers and Kaiti Greening Champions, who supported the event by reinforcing their shared mission of environmental sustainability. Additionally , the Kaiti Greening Champions, chairperson Robert Kasimu, donated solar panels and a lighting system which will enhance the school’s energy sustainability and provide reliable lighting for the students and staff.

Those in attendance were treated to fun by their popular Mwatu radio presenters such as Virginia Mwikali (aka Msupa ) and Geoffrey Musyoki (aka Kaprince) among others.Among those who attended the function included CECM Devolution, @Nicholas Nzioka.

MAKUENI FIRST LADY DONATES EQUIPMENT TO MBOONI HOSPITAL AS EYE CAMP SERVES HUNDREDS.

Makueni First Lady Anita Mutula on Thursday donated medical equipment to help operationalize the newly constructed emergency and family block at Mbooni Sub County Hospital.

Through the Anita Mbinya Foundation, Anita delivered 50 fully dressed hospital beds, 50 bedside cabinets, 25 baby cots and hospital curtains to prepare the facility ahead of its commissioning. The First Lady said the donation will strengthen healthcare services as the hospital awaits full equipping before opening to the public.

During the visit, she checked on a free eye screening camp at the hospital organized by her foundation in partnership with the Makueni County Government, Klear Eye Africa and the Kenya Society for the Blind.

Medical teams at the camp served hundreds of residents through eye examinations and distribution of prescription glasses. Doctors have also performed at least 80 cataract surgeries.

Organizers aim to conduct 150 cataract surgeries before the camp concludes on Friday. The outreach also offers blood pressure and blood sugar screening.

Joyce Mutua, Makueni County Executive Committee Member for Health, thanked the foundation and its partners for supporting the initiative.

Mutua said the county government plans to establish an eye unit at Mbooni Sub County Hospital to expand access to specialized eye care. She added that the county is equipping the new hospital block, including completing electrification works and allocating funds in the county budget.

MAKUENI FEEDLOT SUCCESS DRAWS GLOBAL ATTENTION FROM URUGUAY EXPERTS

Deputy Governor Makueni-H.E Lucy Mulili on Wednesday led a high-level delegation from Uruguay’s National Institute of Agricultural Research, accompanied by national government officials, on a tour of the Sand River feedlot farm in Sultan Hamud, an expansive 200-acre model showcasing advanced feedlot and fodder production systems.

Uruguay, renowned globally for its expertise in livestock genetics, feed technologies, and pasture-based beef systems, is exploring opportunities for collaboration to enhance feedlot performance, strengthen expert training, and establish demonstration sites in Kenya.

Makueni is currently implementing an animal feed strategy aimed at ensuring farmers have access to consistent, affordable, and high-quality feeds that support improved livestock growth and value chain.

During the visit, Uruguay’s Director for the Animal Health Platform commended Makueni for implementing effective policies that have fostered serious beef production.

Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli noted that the county has already invested in pasture development across Malili, Kibwezi West, Kathonzweni, Kilome, and parts of Kibwezi East, while also expanding disease surveillance and supporting farmers through subsidized livestock insurance.

MAKUENI FARMERS URGED TO JOIN SACCOS

Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza encouraged Makueni farmers to consider joining saccos. By doing so, they can access affordable credit options that will help them increase their agricultural productivity and profitability.
Kiminza emphasized that saccos offer opportunities for farmers to save money and borrow loans with the sole aim of starting or expanding their agri-businesses.
Speaking on Thursday at Kalawa during the launch of Kalawa Farmers Sacco offices, Kiminza stated that government agencies and partners support farmers who are members of saccos or cooperatives.
The chairperson for Kalawa Farmers Sacco, Peter Mwanthi reported a membership of 335 with a cash base amounting to Sh. 345,000.
However, he expressed his commitment towards mobilizing more members to join the sacco in order to attain a minimum membership qualification required by the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP) which is set at 600.
Mwanthi further promised to ensure full compliance with the Cooperatives Act, rules and regulations while running Sacco operations.

Makueni Farmers to Receive Financial Boost through Saccos.

The Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development in partnership with the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) has embarked on an ambitious plan to register Saccos in a bid to assist farmers access affordable credits and put more profits in their pockets.
 
Through the Saccos, farmers will be able to access financial resources to boost their productivity and profitability.
 
According to Agriculture chief officer Daniel Ndolo, limited access to financial resources has been a major setback to farmers’ ability to adopt agriculture investments
 
In the new plan, the county government through the department is targeting to form and register a Sacco in each of the 30 wards across the county. So far, 7 Saccos are already legally established, with 6 of them having elected management and supervisory committees in place.
 
The management and supervisory committees’ members of the 6 Saccos underwent  induction training last week, in a bid to equip them with the necessary skills to run and manage the Saccos effectively.
 
The 7 Saccos are in the following  wards; Tulimani, Kako/Waia Masongaleni, Kilome, Thange, Kikumbulyu North and South and Kitise/Kithuki.
 
Once all the Saccos are automated and operational, they will receive a boost startup grant of upto Sh. 1 Million through the NARIGP project.
 
The county government is now calling upon farmers to join Saccos in large numbers so as to benefit maximally in agriculture production and profitability.

Sunflower Farming in Makueni

Makueni farmers to reap millions from Sunflower growing

Thousands of Makueni farmers are looking at better days growing sunflower with a ready and almost insatiable market provided by Bidco company limited.

Through contract farming, Bidco has partnered with Makueni County and Safaricom through use of a mobile based app, Digifarm, through which farmers get agronomical advise, credit facilities and all the necessary extension services on their mobile phone.

The journey towards sunflower production in the County began in November 2018 when Bidco through DigiFarm Contracted 640 farmers to plant the crop as a pilot project.

According to Governor Kivutha Kibwana, the pilot project covered 941ha, harvesting 941 metric tons of sunflower seed valued at about Shillings 35 million.

Purchase of this produce was flagged off at Kathonzweni by governor Kibwana, Safaricom’s Director of Enterprises Business Rita Okuthe, and Bidco head of Agribusiness John Kariuki on Thursday.

Kariuki announced that Makueni has been identified as a model county for sunflower seed growing in the country where those aspiring to venture into the business will come for bench marking.

Out of the 10,000 metric tonnes of sunflower seeds demand by Bidco annually, Makueni has been allocated a 2,000 quota by the company, a motivator to the local farmers to take up its production.

To spur uptake of the crop, Kibwana has said that the county has recruited 75 extension officers trained on using the Digifarm platform in farmer service delivery and equipped with 75 mobile smart phones to enable adoption of the platform by the extension officers.

Another 33 tablets have been sourced for supervisors.

He said begining March, the county has kicked off Soil testing activity at a subsidized cost of Shillings 300 to the farmers. The soil test gives a detailed report after 5 minutes.

MAKUENI FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM SUBSIDIZED SUNFLOWER SEEDS

Farmers in Makueni County are set to benefit from 6 metric tonnes of sunflower seed under the Edible Oil Crops Promotion Project (EOCPP) subsidy programme.

In a capacity building forum held on Wednesday by the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development (DALFCD) in collaboration with the Agriculture and Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), the Sub-County and Ward Agricultural Officers were sensitized on plans to scale up sunflower farming across the county.

Through the initiative, AFA has allocated 6 tonnes of Kenya Fedha sunflower seeds, sourced from the Kenya Seed Company ltd, to be distributed to farmers at a subsidized rate. Under the model, farmers will buy one kilogram of seed at Ksh. 385 and get an additional kilogram free.

The programme aims to boost edible oil crop value chains, increase farmer incomes and promote local production of cooking oil in line with the county’s agricultural transformation agenda.

Makueni farmers to benefit from ‘Ndengu’ promotion

Makueni green gram farmers are set to reap big from the crop as the national government steps in to promote the crop as a model one for the county.

This was announced by Principal Secretary for Agriculture Hamadi Boga on Thursday during a county farmers’ field day at Kwa Kathoka KALRO farm, which the PS presided over on behalf of Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri.

The event was organized by the County Government in collaboration with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services (KEPHIS) and was meant to educate farmers on smart agricultural practices and the appropriate seeds for maximum productivity.

Boga said the people of Makueni would be given an opportunity to choose one model crop that the ministry would promote through farmer capacity building, marketing and other value chain linkages to ensure maximum profitability.

The farmers, under the guardianship of the Agriculture Executive Committee Member Lawrence Nzunga picked ‘Ndengu’ as their preferred model crop.

Governor Kibwana, who hosted the PS, said out of the county government’s support and that of its partners, the acreage under pulses ( Beans, cowpeas, green grams and Dolichos) in the county has increased to 255,432 hectares with an estimated value of over Sh 8 Billion.

Kibwana said the County is now focusing on grain processing with plans a foot to construct the Makindu Integrated Grain Processing Facility to add value to pulses and enable farmers access both local and export markets.