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Makueni Dairy and Apiculture Farmers to Receive Support from the World Bank

Makueni farmers have prioritized the dairy and apiculture(bee-keeping) value chains to receive financial support for market access and value addition under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP)-a new World Bank-funded project.
In the just concluded 2-day public participation process to select two additional value chains to be considered for funding by the World Bank, dairy and apiculture value chains were adopted by the farmers.
 
NAVCDP is a scale-up of NARIGP, and its overall goal is to increase market participation and enhance value addition for smallholder farmers who are either in transition or have transitioned from subsistence to commercial farming.
 
According to the majority of the farmers, in a list of seven value chains, dairy and apiculture have the highest growth potential in both domestic and export markets. The value chains also have the highest potential for expansion in productivity in the county.
 
Other criteria for value chain selection included the potential for inclusivity of the vulnerable groups and nutrition sensitivity.
 
The countywide public participation exercise was spearheaded by the County Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development.

H.E. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday evening appeared before senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee.

H.E. Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Thursday evening appeared before senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee to respond to auditor General’s report for the years 2018/2019, 2019/2020, and 2020/2021 surrounding three Makueni water companies: Mbooni Water and Sanitation Company (MBONWASCO), Wote Water and Sewerage Company (WOWASCO) and Kibwezi Makindu Water and Sanitation Company (KIBMAWASCO).
The senator Godfrey Osotsi led committee heard from the governor how the county had laid down various measures of ensuring the companies run on profitability and enough water is supplied to locals.
1. Intensified patrols to reduce water infrastructure vandalism
2. Automation to bring sanity in water sector through smart metres supported by Safaricom
3. Operationalization of various water projects for increased water volumes:
I) Operationalization of Athi Kalawa water project.
Ii) Athi-Tunguni to Kilema Hill water project
Iii) desilting and repair of pipes in Mulima earth dam .

 

GOVERNOR COMMITS HIS CABINET INTO PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and his Deputy Lucy Mulili have committed members of their cabinet and the chief officers to performance contracts for the 2023/2024 FY.
The performance contracting exercise is meant to ensure efficiency and quality in service delivery to the public in line with provisions of the constitution.
The governor warned that prudent utilization of resources meant to achieve government’s objectives and transparency in procurement processes cannot be compromised. In addition, he said that the team must embed transparency and financial discipline in their operations.
He noted that at the end of the financial year, the members of his cabinet together with their chief officers will be assessed based on their performance.

Makueni, NLC begin Land Ownership Verification in Nunguni and Kikima.

The department of Lands and Urban Planning, Environment and Climate change, Makueni County, has in partnership with National Land Commission (NLC) started plot ownership verification in Nunguni and Kikima towns in Line with Approved Survey Plans.
In an early morning meeting on Tuesday in Wote between NLC led by Commissioner Reginald Okumu, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili and County Commissioner William Kaimba, the NLC team pledged to expedite the exercise so that by August 2023 all beneficiaries will have Letters of Allotment
104 parcels of land are targeted for verification in Nunguni and 206 in Kikima.
The teams also agreed to partner in resolving public land ownership issues in Wote, Mikululo and Kiboko A,B and C and also Fastrack compensation of Project Affected Persons at Kwambila, Manooni and Mulima dams by the relevant National government agencies.

Governor calls for combined efforts to boost education in Makueni as he commissions ultramodern classrooms.

H.E governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has this evening commissioned an ultramodern storey building that houses several classrooms at Nzeeni Lioness Primary School, in Nzaui-Kilili-Kalamba ward, Makueni Sub-County.
The dream of such a modern school has been realized through supporting partners under the Lions Club of Nairobi-Peponi.
The governor asked parents to be actively involved in their children’s academic development with a view of helping them realize their potential.
He was accompanied by the club’s leadership led by Lion Shehzan Luhar, several philanthropists from the service club organization, Susan Kiamba (Makueni MP), and area MCA Francis Mutuku among others.

Governor flags off Makueni journalists to SJAK games.

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr on Friday flagged off Makueni journalists FC to play in the Sports Journalists Association (SJAK) five-aside football tourney slated tomorrow, Nairobi.
Makueni will be battling Nation FC, MediaMax FC, and The Standard Media FC in a tough pool “C”.
The governor who has been supportive in sports, expressed his expectations that the team will win in the competition, which has been organised in conjunction with La Liga.

Local Farmers Reaping Big through the Adoption of New Technologies in Farming

Over 70% of Makueni farmers supported through the National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) have adopted at least one Technology Innovation and Management Practices (TIMPs) in agricultural production, County Livestock and Cooperative Development Director David Musyoki has revealed.
While interacting with the project County Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) members, during their 3-day field visits and backstopping exercise, various farmers shared their success  stories of improved livelihoods after adopting best agriculture practices.
 
According to Musyoki, who also chairs CTAC, the committee is responsible for technical advice and quality assurance at the county level.
Many farmers say are now able to afford school fees for their children as well as feed their families during these hard economic  times. These, they attributed to new technologies that have increased production and profitability in agriculture.
 
Some of the TIMPs adopted by farmers are simple chicken feeds formulation and improved feeding, serial hatching, conservation agriculture and mechanization.
 
Others include Integrated Pest Management, climate-smart agronomics practices, flock health management , harvest and post–harvest management.
 
The adoption of new technologies by farmers is expected to shoot up, with the inception of Saccos in the project to assist them access affordable financial resources.

Makueni receives RTA Response Vehicle, designed to detach vehicles after accidents

A Road Traffic Accident Response Vehicle with a new design (Fabricated in Kenya) has been received in Makueni County courtesy of the partnership between the County and the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM).
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The RTA response vehicle-an ambulance by design and the first one in Kenya carries enough RTA extrication and rescue equipment: 2 hydraulic pumps, a hydraulic cutter, a ram and spreader, trauma bags, four parts extension ladders, and a stretcher among others.
After having a test drive, H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr exuded confidence that rescue operations along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway will significantly be done through the vehicle which will be stationed at Makindu.
 
 
 
 
 

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr during the celebrations of the Akamba rich heritage

H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr , a team from Diaspora Outreach Development Foundation Incorporated (DODFI) led by Prof. Philip M. Mutisya, today, held discussions on possible investment opportunities in Makueni on matters, education, technology, food security, and water, among others.
DODFI agreed to attract investment finance for projects in Makueni.
Kyalo Mumo, the Majority Leader at the County Assembly of Makueni, accompanied the visiting delegation to the governor.