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MAKUENI EXPLORES GREEN FINANCE TO FUND MEGA DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Makueni County is exploring the financial markets to fund capital-intensive projects with huge development ripple effect.

With the help of Financial Sector Deepening- Kenya (FSD), an independent network that works to improve financial systems, the county is working with Price Waterhouse Cooper to develop bankable proposals for funding under the green finances program.

In a meeting with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr, on Friday, to explore possible areas of funding, FSD top ranking officials led by Senior Green Finance Specialist Sarah Makena agreed to link the county with partners for funding of the development proposals.

Some of the targeted areas of development funding include: fruits processing and value addition; development of industrial parks; provision of green infrastructure and incentives to attract investors; Water harvesting and green energy development.

MAKUENI EXPANDS SPECIALIZED HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH NEW PARTNERSHIPS.

Makueni County has signed four agreements aimed at expanding specialized health services, including eye care, HIV treatment, women’s health and maternal and newborn care.

Gov. Mutula Kilonzo Jr. witnessed the signing Monday between the county government and AHF Kenya, Sightsavers International, The HEM Practice Ltd. and Jacaranda Health Solutions.

Under the agreements, Sightsavers will support eye screening and treatment, while AHF Kenya will strengthen HIV testing, prevention and comprehensive care.

The HEM Practice will help expand minimally invasive surgery and specialized women’s health services through training and technical support. Jacaranda Health will support maternal and newborn care through digital health tools, data use and training for frontline health workers.

Mutula said the partnerships would help bring specialized care closer to residents and strengthen the county’s health system.

He urged residents to undergo regular eye screening to enable early detection and treatment of conditions such as cataracts.

The governor also highlighted the need to strengthen maternal and newborn services, particularly care for babies requiring specialized neonatal treatment.

The agreements were signed by Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui, AHF Kenya country program director; Moses Chege, Sightsavers International country director; Faith Wanjeri, CEO of The HEM Practice; and Javan Waita, director of Kenya programs at Jacaranda Health.

County Health Executive Joyce Mutua, Chief Health Officer Dr. Harvey Mulei and Director of Preventive and Promotive Health Dr. Stephen Mwatha also attended the signing.

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 Engages Kikumbulyu North Ward Community on Empowerment Programmes.

Kikumbulyu North | 1st October 2026-

The County Government of Makueni has engaged the Kikumbulyu North Ward community on the implementation of empowerment programmes aimed at improving livelihoods at the grassroots.

CECM Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services Eng. Sebastian Kyoni met with boda boda riders and Community Resource Promoters (CRPs) to discuss the way forward on the KSh1 million boda boda empowerment programme and the KSh5 million allocation to the Ward for support to Village Savings and Loaning Associations (VSLA)

An estimated 6,000 households across 108 villages in the Ward are set to benefit, with CRPs driving the programme at the village level.

Meanwhile, 281 registered boda boda riders, subject to verification at their respective stages, are set to benefit from the boda boda empowerment programme aimed at supporting the riders towards repair and maintenance of their motorbikes.

The engagement with the boda boda sector follows a countywide registration and mapping exercise across all 30 Wards, aimed at generating accurate data to guide planning and better management of the sector.

Eng. Kyoni urged the groups to take advantage of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) to improve their livelihoods, with 30 community groups in Kikumbulyu North Ward set to benefit from the programme.

Kyoni was accompanied by Chief Officer John Nguni, Director Boniface Muting’a and other county officials.

Makueni Empowers Six Community Groups and Youths with Equipment to Grow Local Enterprises

Makindu Ward, 22nd October 2026

Six Community groups, young people and individuals in Kimboo, Kiboko, Nthia and Makindu in Makindu Ward have received income-generating equipment under the County Government of Makueni’s Community Empowerment Programme to support entrepreneurship, create employment and improve livelihoods.

The beneficiaries received a range of equipment, including tents and chairs for hire, sound systems, welding machines, salon equipment, sewing machines and digital cameras. Among the beneficiaries are Utisi wa Ene and Nguuni Self Help Group.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, Chief Officer for Youth and Sports John Nguni and area MCA Steve Kilonzo presided over the handover exercise on Thursday.

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