Kyamakuthi earthdam in Kalawa Ward with a capacity of 210,000 cubic meters. The massive water harvesting solidifies Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr vision of ensuring that every resident has access to water less than 2km from their homesteads. This move also aims to enhance food security by providing water for irrigation.
The process of drafting a Land Management Plan for Ngai Ndethya National Reserve has kicked off with unveiling of a multi-sectoral team to spearhead the process.
The team comprising of representatives of Kenya Widlife Service, Makueni Lands Department, NEMA, National and County Government Administrations, NLC, conservancies and local residents was unveiled by KWS Director General Prof. Erastus Kanga and Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr at Mtito Andei on Friday.
Governor Mutula also led a citizen engagement forum at Nthunguni market to record the voice of wnanchi on the matter.
The plan aims to harmonize human settlement, conservation, wildlife protection and development.
May 28, 2024
Kwakyai Rural Sacco Limited from Kikumbulyu South is among the over 300 exhibitors showcasing their agricultural technologies at the ongoing Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition at Kibabii University in Bungoma County.
Kwakyai was registered as a Sacco in 2002 with the aim of producing, aggregating, and marketing fruits and vegetables.
However, they faced significant post-harvest losses due to market instability, prompting them to explore value addition. They decided to focus on drying tomatoes.
In 2017, 110 farmers signed a contract with Ketchup, a Netherlands based company , to supply 10 tons of produce per week. The farmers received a grant of Ksh. 6 million from the Makueni County NARIGP to upgrade their pack house to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards, enabling compliance with export market standards.
This contract has provided the farmers with stable market prices and increased incomes. In 2023, they achieved gross sales of Ksh. 2.7 million from exported tomatoes.
As the Pre-Madaraka Food Security Exhibition continues, various agricultural stakeholders are advocating for a paradigm shift from traditional agriculture to agribusiness and commercialization. Today’s discussions focus on interventions to enhance agricultural production, productivity, and value addition.
Kwa Nzoongo Earth Dam, powered by the community-driven climate action program (FLLoCA), is set to revolutionize the water, agriculture, and environmental situation in Ivingoni/Nzambani Ward.
The Kshs 10M dam (funded by the World Bank and Makueni County Government) is nearly complete, with the contractor currently undertaking repair works on the embankment that breached during the recent rainy season.
Once fully operational, the dam will provide water to 400 households for both domestic use and micro-irrigation, including the establishment of vertical gardens to enhance food security.
A climate-smart agricultural demonstration farm will be set up near the dam site to educate farmers, alongside capacity-building programs on farmland and rangeland management. Additionally, efforts will be made to develop pasture through grass reseeding.
Over 1,600 households in Katithi Sub-Location, Mavindini Ward, will now access clean water following the commissioning of the Kwa Makau Borehole water project by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr. on Wednesday.
The Ksh. 10.2 million project, funded by Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH) under the Charity Water Mission, will serve 15 villages with water for domestic and institutional use.
Key works of the project included upgrading the solar system, building a 50m³ storage tank, laying 12.5km of pipeline, constructing six kiosks and two ablution blocks, and installing six PVC tanks.
Governor Mutula, while commissioning the project, accompanied by area MCA Jonathan Kimongo, urged residents to safeguard the water infrastructure against vandalism.
Additionally, three primary schools have benefited through dedicated water connections.
The 2018 Makueni County volleyball tournament served off Saturday morning at Unoa grounds in Wote, Makueni County. The tournament, sponsored by the County Government of Makueni and Kenya Volleyball Federation attracted more than 38 teams, both men and women in different categories:
Draws were conducted this morning to determine the pools and fixtures for the two-day tournament.
POOL A
POOL B
POOL C
POOL D
WOMEN
MEN
WOMEN
KVF in conjunction with the Government of Makueni County will host the 7th Leg of the 2018 Edition and thereafter the Makueni County tournament at Unoa Sports ground in Wote town.
This is the second time after hosting the 6th Leg of 2017 Edition, an indication of the confidence that KVF gained on the County Government’s ability to host an event of this magnitude.
We love such events so that our players and fans can have an opportunity to watch the elite clubs in the National League and also have experience to play against them during the tournament.
We thank our supporters who came in a big way: KCB, Wote branch and Nairobi Bottlers Ltd.
Welcome to Makueni County.
For over a decade, residents of Thange Ward have endured persistent water shortages, a challenge compounded by contamination of existing water sources due to oil spills.
To alleviate this suffering and create a sustainable all-year-round access to clean, safe and sufficient water, the Government of Makueni County, through the Climate Change Unit, has officially handed over to a contractor the site for construction of the Thange Integrated Water Project. The Kshs 13M project is funded under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.
The project will involve construction of a 100,000-litre water sump and intake, water distribution lines, four water points, and environmental conservation measures to protect the fragile riparian ecosystem. Water will be sourced from the Thange Springs, an underground flow from the Chyulu Hills, ensuring a clean and uncontaminated supply.
Once completed in approximately six months, the project is expected to benefit at least 730 households in Machinery Town, Moki, Mbulutini, Thange, Kavunye and Ndungi Street, as well as St. Peters Primary and Secondary Schools.
Beyond improving water access, the project will also empower residents through training in climate-smart agriculture. Community members will receive conical gardens and beehives to boost food production and create alternative sources of income.
Makueni county government has received a grant of Sh 110 million from the European Union to support the ongoing fruit processing project.
The money will be injected into the Kalamba fruit processing project and used to initiate the expansion of the plant to enable it turn into a multi-processor and to create a packaging line.
The grant is part of Sh 3 billion to be allocated to 15 counties for Local Economic Development projects.
The targeted projects include construction of markets, abattoirs, fruit and milk processing factories, food storage, dairy, seed production and multiplication and fish processing.
Last year Makueni launched a fruit and milk processing plants at Kalamba and Kikima respectively.
Other counties expected to benefit from the funds include Kwale, Taita-Taveta, Tana River, Samburu, West Pokot, Laikipia, among others.
Makueni governor Professor Kivutha Kibwana witnessed the signing of LED-IDEAS proposal by County Secretary Paul Wasanga and Devolution PS Nelson Marwa.
Makueni is the first county to comply with the European Union conditions for the grant.
Some of the compliance requirements include high standards of fruit production, good agricultural practices and devolved decision making through committees.
Counties seeking the grant are also required to observe strict anti-corruption tendencies and good governance in their operations.
They are also required to come up with projects that transform livelihoods economically.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, European Union representative Vincent De Boer graced the event.
“This marks the beginning of the actual implementation of the IDEAS (Instruments for devolution advise and support) a programme whose financing agreement was signed between the Government of Kenya and the European Union,” Mr Boer said