Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has called upon the county government staff to double their efforts to ensure efficient and effective service delivery to the people of Makueni.
Mutula told his staff that servant leadership was an important virtue that they needed to cultivate and asked them to be their own supervisors and report to work consistently.
Governor Mutula addressed the staff on Tuesday when he officially released the results for Performance Contracting for the 2022/2023 financial year at the Green Park in Wote.
The Governor further congratulated the Department of Agriculture, Irrigation, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative Development and the Makueni County Fruit Development and Processing Plant for being ranked the best in the County Departments and Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) respectively.
All the county staff are committed to performance contracting, an initiative by the government to ensure efficient service delivery to the citizens.
Besides the trophies and awards given to different departments and agencies, Mutula was keen to observe that the citizens’ satisfaction is the best performance indicator.
Other departments ranked include Infrastructure and Devolution. Wote Water and Sewerage Company (WOWASCO) and Makueni Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority were ranked the second and third best in the category of SAGAs.
Makueni County Public Service Board topped in independent agencies.
The ongoing legal awareness clinics were held on Thursday in Tulimani Ward, focusing on matters of land succession and ownership.
50 households from the Ward to are set receive assistance in processing title deeds through the County Government.
The initiative aims at empowering residents by helping them formalize land ownership, reduce disputes, and promote access to government services tied to legal documentation.
The legal clinics are part of a wider program by the county government to enhance public understanding of succession laws and ensure families secure rightful ownership of inherited land.
The legal sensitization forums on land succession being conducted by the Government of Makueni County in various Wards were on Wednesday held at Ilima Ward.
Today’s session provided residents with practical guidance on how to handle inheritance matters lawfully and avoid family conflicts that often arise during property distribution.
Participants were taken through key procedures involved in succession to ensure fairness and transparency in managing Estates.
The sessions offer citizens an opportunity to learn directly from County legal officers and seek clarification on related issues.
County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa guided participants through the succession process and emphasized the importance of following due process in preserving family harmony.
The initiative aims to empower 100 households in every Ward with accurate legal information to help them protect their property and get title deeds.
Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. has renewed calls for justice for residents affected by the 2015 Thange oil spill, describing it as a long-standing injustice that continues to harm livelihoods and the environment.
After visiting Thange with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, the governor faulted state agencies for mishandling the cleanup . He questioned earlier NEMA findings that declared local water sources safe, saying the oil effect was still active.
Mutula criticized the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) for slow compensation despite posting a KSh 10 billion profit in the 2023/2024 financial year.
He also urged the national government to disclose all liabilities tied to KPC before proceeding with its planned privatization.
Kalonzo backed the governor’s concerns, warning that the proposed sale of KPC lacked transparency and risked the loss of a profitable public asset and called upon community members to unite and pursue the issue from a common front.
The Thange oil spill occured in May 2015, contaminating farmland and the Thange River.
Mango farmers across Makueni County will reap big from a timely intervention as over 15,000 fruit fly traps, donated by the European Union, are set to be distributed to combat the destructive pest.
The consignment, received last week by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, was provided through TradeMark Africa and the East Africa Marketing Development Authority.
The traps use pheromones to lure fruit flies into a chamber lined with biopesticide, killing them instantly. Unlike heavy pesticide use that harms both people and the environment, these traps offer a safe and sustainable solution.
Speaking during the Tuesday launch at Kikumini/Muvau Ward, Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli noted that fruit flies have long reduced mango yields and farmer incomes.
She said the county is determined to protect farmers’ produce and boost food security.
In a joint statement, TradeMark Africa Country Director Lillian Mwai and Agriculture Chief Officer Dr. Victoria Kyalo told farmers that the fruit fly trap distribution is part of a wider pest management program designed to strengthen horticulture value chains and raise farmers’ incomes.
The traps, coming at the critical mango management season, promise healthier fruits, bigger harvests and stronger access to premium markets for farmers.
The event was attended by area MCA Elizabeth Kawembe, Agriculture Chief Officer Dr. Victoria Kyalo and EAMDA CEO Eunice Ngina among others.
