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MAKUENI ESTABLISHES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH AVENUE GROUP.

In a bid to strengthen healthcare services, the Makueni County Government has established a strategic partnership with Avenue group, Nairobi.

This collaboration aims to establish a two-way platform for surgical training, mentorship, and research.

On Wednesday, the governor alongside Dr. Shannon Shibata-Germanos, Head of Proximie Global Health, visited Avenue group’s headquarters in Nairobi to discuss this promising alliance.

Governor Mutula emphasized the importance of fostering a collaborative relationship that would allow Makueni’s sub-county health facilities to work closely with Avenue group both digitally and in person.

This partnership is expected to include joint workshops, surgical training camps, mentorship programs, research initiatives, live demonstrations, and the co-publication of medical findings.

In attendance were Prof.Paul Odula, Head of Department of Surgery at the institution and Dr. Michael Mwachiro, Head of Gastroenterology among others.

MAKUENI ENTREPRENEUR TURNS BOABAB INTO BUSINESS GOLD

At the ongoing East Africa MSMEs Trade Fair in Nairobi, Makueni’s Rehema Madega from Kibwezi is showcasing how everyday resources can spark economic growth.

Rehema, the proprietor of Huruma Asili Foods, has transformed the baobab fruit (Adansonia digitata), commonly found in the lower parts of Makueni due to its drought resilience, into commercially appealing products.

She has developed Baobab Jam used as a bread spread .

The fruit is rich in vitamin C, calcium, potassium and dietary fiber, which help boost immunity and support digestion.

Additionally, Rehema has innovatively processed the fruit into a nutritious flour that can be used to prepare beverages and porridge.

Her innovation reflects the growing cottage industry movement in Makueni, where creativity and value addition are opening new income opportunities.

The Expo provides a platform for such local entrepreneurs to market their products regionally and beyond.

MAKUENI ENGAGES TOURISM PROMOTION FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT

In a move to enhance tourism growth, officials from the Makueni County Culture and Tourism Directorates held discussions with the Tourism Promotion Fund Kenya (TPF) officials in Nairobi on Tuesday.

TPF, a corporate institution that supports the growth of Kenya’s tourism sector, provides financial assistance for developing tourism products and services, funds the promotion of Kenya as a top travel destination and mobilizes resources to support various tourism-related activities.

The meeting focused on exploring potential areas of collaboration in co-funding tourism development and promotion projects.

Leading the county delegation, Chief Officer for Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani highlighted Makueni’s tourism potential, citing its strategic proximity to Tsavo and Chyulu National Parks.

The TPF Director for Programmes Management Doreen Okoyana welcomed the engagement stating, “We are committed to supporting initiatives that enhance tourism growth and sustainability across counties.”

This partnership aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s vision of economically empowering residents through tourism.

The meeting was also attended by Tourism Director Dianah Muli, Culture Director Mutua Mulonzya and other county officials.

MAKUENI EMPOWERS 65 YOUTH IN KILUNGU WITH FREE DRIVING TRAINING AND LICENSES

Makueni County has launched a one-month intensive motor vehicle training program for 65 young people from Kilungu Ward, conducted by Mumbuni Engineering & Driving School. Upon completion, participants will be licensed as fully qualified drivers.

The initiative, led by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports, and Social Services, seeks to enhance youth employability, improve road safety, and advance inclusivity under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s empowerment agenda.

On Wednesday, County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni flagged off the program in a ceremony attended by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), Salama Traffic Base Commander, and Kilungu Ward MCA Joseph Mbindyo.

The 65 trainees are part of a larger cohort of 289 youth to benefit from the county-sponsored driving training and licensing program in the 2024/2025 Financial Year.

MAKUENI EMPOWERS 33 KEE BODA BODA RIDERS WITH PROFESSIONAL DRIVING SKILLS

Thirty-three boda boda riders from Kee Ward have graduated to become fully qualified motor vehicle drivers after successfully completing a county-sponsored driving training programme. The graduates were issued with interim driving licences during a ceremony held at Kee Market on Wednesday.

The programme, spearheaded by the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, is designed to help boda boda riders transition into professional driving and access broader employment opportunities.

Speaking during the licence issuance ceremony, County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni said the initiative, now in its third phase in Kee Ward, will proceed to a fourth phase to give more young people an opportunity to benefit.

Kyoni noted that the programme reflects Makueni’s continued commitment to investing in youth by equipping them with practical skills that enable them to transition into new careers, secure gainful employment and build sustainable livelihoods.

Kee Ward MCA Albanus Manzu, who also attended the event, called on more young people to take advantage of the next phase of the programme by registering in large numbers.

MAKUENI EMERGES THIRD IN NATIONAL PARAVOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT

Makueni County’s men’s and women’s paravolleyball teams clinched second runners-up positions at the just-concluded National Paravolleyball Trials and Team Selection Tournament held in Wote, Makueni.

The three-day event, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, aiming at selecting Kenya’s squad for the 2026 International Paravolleyball Championship in China, attracted top teams from across the country. Siaya County secured the men’s championship title, while Bungoma County lifted the women’s trophy.

Makueni teams displayed impressive resilience, advancing to the semifinals where the men fell to Uasin Gishu and the women lost to Nairobi. However, both teams bounced back strongly in the playoffs, the men defeating Nairobi, and the women edging out Uasin Gishu, to secure their respective third-place trophies.

Makueni County Sports Director Ambrose Kisoi hailed the achievement as a testimony to the county’s strategic investments in disability sports, emphasizing the value of talent identification and nurturing at the grassroots level. He expressed optimism that Makueni athletes will earn spots in the national team to be selected from the tournament

MAKUENI EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER (EOC) REPORT.

In light of recent developments, an urgent update from the situation room reveals that the heavy rainfall last night has resulted in the flooding of Muooni River. Unsupervised concerned community members have initiated search and recovery efforts for the four missing bodies as early as 5:00 am.

It is imperative to swiftly notify all individuals along the riverbanks downstream to immediately halt their activities, as substantial water volumes have been detected from along Matiliku to Emali bridge.

An early warning system has been activated downstream to ensure swift action and safety measures are taken as our County response teams take charge.

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 ECDE LEARNERS SHINE AT EASTERN REGION MUSIC FESTIVALS

Makueni County’s ECDE learners have posted impressive results at the ongoing Eastern Region Music Festivals, with Mii ECDE emerging Position 1 in Class 101 and AIC Kathonzweni ECDE also securing Position 1 in Class 2119G. Kambu ECDE attained Position 2 in Class 2101G, while Kivandini ECDE and Ivoleni ECDE each secured Position 3 in Classes 2101G and 100 respectively.⁣

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The strong performance highlights the county’s commitment to nurturing talent at the foundational learning level and reflects the dedication of learners, teachers and parents in preparing for the regional competitions. The achievements have positioned Makueni among the standout performers in the ECDE category at this year’s festivals.⁣

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As the competitions continue, attention now turns to Wee School for the Deaf and Kakuswi School for the Deaf, which will represent Makueni on Thursday in the special needs education categories as the county seeks to build on its impressive showing at the regional event.