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MAKUENI ASSEMBLY SENSITIZED ON NATIONAL VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR SEAMLESS IMPLEMENTATION.

Makueni Assembly Sensitized on National Value Chain Development Project for Seamless Implementation

Machakos: May 16, 2024

Makueni Agriculture Executive Joyce Mutua on Thursday officially inaugurated a 3-day workshop that convened all members of the Makueni County Assembly .

The workshop seeks to introduce the assembly members to the new agriculture project, the National Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).

Mutua emphasized the crucial role of the County Assembly as a major stakeholder in ensuring the successful implementation of the project, especially considering its implementation at the ward levels.

NAVCDP, a five-year initiative, aims to boost market participation and value addition within the mango, dairy, poultry, tomato, and apiculture value chains across all 30 wards in the county.

Representing the County Speaker Mbilu Douglas , Hon. Jonathan Muthoka, the Member of County Assembly for Ilima Ward, expressed steadfast commitment and support to guarantee the project’s benefits reach all farmers in Makueni.

The workshop is being spearheaded by the Department’s leadership in collaboration with the County Project Coordination Unit.

Notable attendee include representative from the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat (PETS), Food Security Advisor Dr. Menjo.

Makueni ASK show lauded for its innovativeness

Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau together with her Machakos counterpart Eng. Francis Maliti on Friday officially opened the 2019 Makueni Agricultural Satellite Show at Makindu saying it is a good platform to promote agriculture for local farmers.

The two toured several exhibition stands where Makueni farmers showcased agricultural products, variety breeds of livestock and technological innovations. This year, the show received 85 exhibitors compared to 46 of last year.

“In 2016, the county government of Makueni endorsed the idea of starting our own show which was triggered by the realization that when agriculture performs well, economy grows automatically. Again, we are aware that we don’t have adequate extension officers, hence a show of GIANT classroom for farmers,” Mwau noted.

The DG further noted that since 2014, the government had utilised Sh 60 million in livestock value chain to upgrade livestock value as well as implementing disease control programme.

Mwau also announced that the county government has set aside Sh 7 million to set up an irrigation scheme in order to boost agricultural potential in Makueni.

DG Maliti while appreciating the county for the bold step to initiate an own local show, urged farmers to prioritise growing of drought resistant crops as one way of mitigating the effects of climate change.

He said: “We have recently noticed that the effects of climate change are real. As farmers, you should prioritise growing of traditional food crops such as sorghum, millet, cassava and green grams.”

The show which will close on Saturday was also graced by senior county officials from Makueni and Machakos as well as representatives from the Agricultural Society of Kenya.

MAKUENI, ANGLICAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND MICRO ENTERPRISES SUPPORT PROGRAMME TRUST EASTERN INVEST SHS.11 MILLION TO SPONSOR 480 TRAINEES ON AGRICULTURAL SKILLS.

The county Government of Makueni, Anglican Development Services Eastern (ADSE) and Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust(MESPT) have invested Shs.11 Million to fully sponsor 480 trainees, including youth and women farmers, for agricultural skills training at the Makueni Agricultural Training Centre in Kwakathoka.

This was disclosed by the Agriculture and Irrigation Executive Joyce Mutua on Friday evening during the closing assembly ceremony that marked their transition to industrial attachment opportunities.

According to Mutua, the funds covered tuition fees, accommodation, meals, and exam fees for the 3-month coursework.

“The course cost approximately Shs.11 Million with a 25% contribution from the county government while ADSE contributed 60%. MESPT contributed15%,” said Mutua.

This first cohort of trainees comprises 60 youth and 420 women farmers who underwent comprehensive training on horticulture courses as well as dairy and poultry farming over a duration of three months before proceeding for an additional farm-based practical program lasting another three months in various established agribusiness ventures within and outside Makueni County.

Further, Mutua observed that the women farmers also received extensive training through farmer field schools and will continue until May when both groups will graduate after completing their respective training.

Agriculture and Irrigation Chief Officer Dr. Victoria Kyalo who also graced the ceremony added that upon completion, some of the trainees will receive start-up capital for their agri-business investments.

However, Mutua stressed that subsequent cohorts will share training costs with both partners to ensure program sustainability going forward.

MAKUENI AND WFP LAUNCH MARKET ACCESS STRATEGY TO SUPPORT FARMERS

Makueni County Government in partnership with the UN World Food Program (WFP), has launched a market access strategy aimed at helping smallholder farmers connect with public markets.

The Makueni Smallholder Farmers Access to Public Institutions Markets Strategy, which will be implemented from 2024 to 2028, was officially launched on Friday by WFP Country Director Lauren Landis and Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.

The strategy will allow smallholder farmers to access 30% of the AGPO reserve designated for local products to Public Institutions as outlined in the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.

Landis praised the county government for its commitment to supporting farmers with essential resources like seeds and fertilizers, emphasizing that increased food production in Makueni could significantly enhance both the local economy and nutritional outcomes.

The launch event that drew over 200 farmers from organized producer groups across Makueni saw Governor Kilonzo express strong support for the collaboration, stating that it would boost farmers’ confidence by ensuring markets for their produce. He also encouraged them to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming rainy season, crucial for the county’s agricultural success.

The event featured remarks from Agriculture CECM Joyce Mutua and Chief Officers Japheth Kiminza, Daniel Ndolo and Dr. Jossylyn Mutua (Livestock, Devolution and Trade respectively), who contributed to discussions on the future of farming in Makueni.

MAKUENI AND TMA PROGRESS A NEW DIGITAL PLATFORM TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURE

The Government of Makueni County, through the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development (DAFLCD), together with Trademark Africa (TMA), held a meeting to advance the Kilimo Makueni Management Information System (MIS).

The platform is a new digital tool created to make agricultural services easier, faster, and more organized for farmers and officers.

The Kilimo Makueni MIS https://kilimo.makueni.go.ke brings farmer registration, extension services, agricultural programs, farm mapping and management dashboards into one simple and accessible system.

Its main aim is to improve how farmers get information, strengthen field work, and help the county make better decisions using accurate data.

Accompanied by Education and ICT CECM Japheth Mang’oka, Agriculture CECM Liz Muli explained that the platform will give farmers quick access to advice, updates, and county programs.

The CECM noted that extension officers will work more efficiently with digital reporting tools, while partners will use reliable, up-to-date data to strengthen coordination and align their support with county priorities.

With this improved information flow from the field to the Department, the county will also be able to rely on real-time insights to plan better, allocate resources wisely and monitor progress across the agricultural sector.

The meeting was attended by Chief Officers Dr. Victoria Kyallo, Japheth Kiminza, and TMA’s Rachael Wangeci.

MAKUENI AND THINKWELL STRENGTHEN HEALTH SECTOR THROUGH PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

The Makueni County Government, in partnership with ThinkWell, have been implementing a performance management framework aimed at systematically tracking progress, identifying service delivery gaps, and enhancing health outcomes across the county.

On Tuesday, the County Health Management Team convened at Kusyombunguo Hotel to assess the implementation of previous action points and propose corrective measures where necessary.

During the forum, ThinkWell representative Moses Maragu reported that health facilities achieved a 100 percent reporting rate in April and May this year.

Level 2 and 3 facilities recorded higher participation and inclusion in the analysis compared to level 4 facilities.

The assessment also showed that level 4 facilities had attained full availability of essential maternal and newborn care equipment.

Items such as delivery beds, vacuum extractors, and complete delivery packs were reported to be readily available, reflecting improved facility readiness for maternal and newborn care.

Outgoing County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services, Dr. Paul Musila, who attended the meeting, used the opportunity to introduce the incoming CECM, Joyce Mutua.

He emphasized the role of performance management in strengthening accountability, enhancing efficiency, and aligning health interventions with county priorities.

He also highlighted the framework’s role in promoting data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement, and the optimal use of resources to better serve the population.

MAKUENI AND PATH TRAIN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS IN ADVANCED HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY

Makueni County, in partnership with the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), has embarked on a significant initiative to train 16 biomedical engineers in the latest healthcare technologies.

This collaboration aims to enhance the engineers’ skills in developing innovative solutions for healthcare and public health initiatives.

As part of the training, the engineers were introduced to Survey CTO Collect V2.81, a mobile data collection platform tailored for researchers and professionals working in offline environments.

This tool is expected to improve the efficiency and accuracy of data collection in various healthcare settings.

These trained biomedical engineers will be deployed to conduct comprehensive facility audits across different departments within county hospitals.

Their primary role will involve supervising over 57 healthcare facilities, with a focus on auditing equipment in laboratories, radiology units, central sterile services departments (CSSD), operating theaters, and computed tomography (CT) facilities.

Following the audits, the engineers will electronically submit detailed reports to the Department of Health Services in the County, ensuring that the data collected is promptly and accurately processed for further action.

MAKUENI AND KWS CHARTS A NEW PATH FOR CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. met with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Prof. Erastus Kanga on Tuesday to discuss critical issues affecting Makueni County.

Top in the discussion was the regularization of the Ngai Ndethya settlement scheme, which is currently a national reserve. It was resolved that the county government will initiate a management plan for excision to allocate 13,860 hectares for human settlement and 7,279 hectares for wildlife conservancy.

It was agreed that the conservancy would remain public land and be designated as a game reserve, to be managed collaboratively by the County Government of Makueni and the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Prof. Kanga emphasized the importance of wildlife conservation for biodiversity and sustaining life, as highlighted by UNESCO.

During the meeting, Governor Kilonzo committed to establishing a resource centre with offices for the County Game Warden and Liaison Officer. In turn, KWS pledged to improve road access in Mtito Andei town to enhance connectivity.

Further, he noted that the collaboration would boost revenue by positioning Mtito Andei as a key tourist destination. “This partnership is a win for conservation, development, and the people of Makueni.” Kilonzo remarked

Additionally, the meeting addressed the urgent need for concerted mitigation of human-wildlife conflict in the county with the completion of 20 Kilometre electric fence from Wandei to Gaza set before the end of February 2025. KWS was urged to implement swift intervention measures and expedite compensation for affected residents.

The Governor was accompanied by CEC Members Japheth Mang’oka (Lands), Nicholas Nzioka (Devolution), Eng. Peter Nyamai (Transport), and Chief Officers Eng. Naomi Nthambi (Energy), Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi (Environment), and Daudi Kyalo (Lands and Urban Planning).

MAKUENI EYES SH 1.2B IN OWN SOURCE REVENUE THROUGH COLLECTION PARTNERSHIP WITH KCB.

Makueni and Kenya Commercial Bank have partnered to enhance the county’s Own Source Revenue collection with a target of Sh 1.2 Billion in the 2023/2024 Financial Year.

On Thursday, Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr and a delegation of KCB managers held a review of the ongoing Market Outreach Last Mile revenue collection which has so far netted Sh 887M.

The team also flagged an accelerated campaign towards the Sh 1.2B mark which also entails a joint coaching of business people on developing bankable ideas, loan and insurance products.

Governor Mutula said the partnership will be scaled to support the agricultural value chain especially in marketing of mangoes, pixies and green grams.

MAKUENI AND KCB SET STAGE FOR TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIP

In a bold and visionary move, the County Government of Makueni has held an inception meeting with Kenya Commercial Bank Foundation(KCBF), setting the groundwork for a transformative partnership under the 2JIAJIRI program. This upcoming initiative aims to equip thousands of young people with technical skills, entrepreneurial training, and access to affordable credit — turning them from job seekers into job creators. With KCB’s Foundation financial strength and Makueni’s grassroots reach, the county is poised to become a model for youth-led economic empowerment.

The program will focus on high-impact sectors like carpentry, masonry, and beauty among others while also providing financial literacy and startup support to help youth build viable businesses. Once launched, 2JIAJIRI promises to light the path to self-reliance and prosperity for Makueni’s next generation.

The meeting was led by CECM for ICT, Education, and Internship Elizabeth Muli, CECM for Gender, Children, Sports and Social Services Sebastian Kyoni, Chief Officer Irene Makau,and CO Nicholis Mutua, among other county officials — marking the beginning of a promising journey toward sustainable youth empowerment.