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MAKUENI COUNTY EYES GLOBAL MARKETS WITH NEW HORTICULTURE PACKHOUSE PLANS

Makueni County has stepped up efforts to improve the handling and marketing of horticultural produce amid rising production and recurring seasonal gluts.

A joint team from the county’s Departments of Agriculture and Transport and Infrastructure on Thursday conducted a benchmarking visit to the Horticulture Crops Development (HCD) Centre at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to assess requirements for establishing and operating a standard pack house.

The delegation, led by Agriculture CECM Elizabeth Muli and Transport and Infrastructure CECM Eng. Peter Mumo, held consultations with HCD officials on pack house design standards and best practices in produce handling that meet international quality and export requirements.

HCD Deputy Director for Regulation and Compliance Collins Otieno said proper produce protection is critical for maintaining quality, meeting export standards, and enabling efficient aggregation to enhance market competitiveness.

Makueni County currently operates packhouses and cold rooms at Kalawani, Kavuthu, and Kalongo, and plans to strengthen market linkages while developing a mega packhouse to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmer returns.

MAKUENI COUNTY EXPLORES RENEWABLE ENERGY COLLABORATION WITH BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. on Wednesday met a high powered delegation from the British High Commission Office to discuss potential collaborations and funding opportunities for renewable energy projects in Makueni County.

The discussions highlighted several areas of cooperation, including:

Establishing an enabling environment for renewable energy projects;

Capacity-building initiatives for local administrators in renewable energy management

Resource mobilization for innovative renewable energy technologies and

Transitioning grid-powered projects to solar-powered systems.

Robina Abuya from the British High Commission who led the delegation to Makueni detailed prospective grant programs aimed at supporting these initiatives. She emphasized the importance of accessing international development funds for clean energy, which can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, combat climate change, and stimulate economic growth.

Makueni County Executive Committee Members and the County Attorney take oath of office

Makueni County Executive Committee Members and the County Attorney take oath of office on Tuesday, 8th, November 2022 at the County headquarters, Wote.

The Executive Committee now begins the onerous journey of delivering H.E Mutula Kilonzo Jnr’s development clarion call, “Wauni wa Kwika Nesa” to the people of Makueni.

 

PICTURES: Makueni County Executive Committee Members and County Attorney swearing-in at the County headquarters, Wote.

 

MAKUENI COUNTY EXECUTIVE, ASSEMBLY HOLD JOINT CAPACITY- BUILDING SESSION ON KENYA DEVOLUTION SUPPORT PROGRAM

Makueni County convened a 2-day high-level consultative and capacity-building session bringing together members of the County Executive Committee and the County Assembly to deepen understanding and strengthen collaboration on the implementation of the Kenya Devolution Support Program (KDSP II).

The sessions focused on equipping legislators with knowledge on the design, objectives, and operational framework of KDSP II — a World Bank–supported program aimed at enhancing county governance, institutional performance, and service delivery.

Speaking during the meeting, the County Executive Committee Member for Devolution, Nicholas Nzioka commended the County Assembly for its continued support in passing policy and legal frameworks that enhance fiscal discipline, planning, and performance management within the county.

He emphasized that joint engagement is critical in achieving the key results areas of KDSP II.

Devolution Chief Officer , Daniel Ndolo noted that through the Governance and Institutional Support Grant, the county will implement reforms in planning, financial management, and human resource systems, while the Service Delivery Investment Grant (SDIG) will finance critical infrastructure in sectors such as agriculture, health, transport, and disaster management.

Makueni County Establishes Climate Change Stakeholders Coalition for Unified Adaptation Efforts

The Department of Lands, Urban Planning & Development, Environment, and Climate Change in Makueni has officially launched a Climate Change Stakeholders coalition with the aim of orchestrating concerted efforts in climate change adaptation.

This coalition unites various stakeholders, including government entities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), Academia, and environmental advocates. Its primary objective is to facilitate collaboration among these entities and formulate a comprehensive strategy for coordinated climate change adaptation within the county.

The inaugural event took place on Tuesday in Wote, presided over by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili. It was graced by the presence of County Executive Committee Member Sonia Nzilani, Chief Officer Japheth Kiminza, and members of the Makueni Climate Change Fund Management Board.

MAKUENI COUNTY ENGAGES CITIZENS TO PRIORITIZE 2025-26 PROJECTS

Wote: August 13th 2024

Makueni County Treasury has kicked off public participation forums at the ward level to engage citizens in prioritizing projects and programs for implementation during the 2025-26 financial year. The forums aim to incorporate citizens’ views into the County Annual Development Plan (CADP) 2025-26, which will form the basis for the implementation of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023-27.

The meetings are scheduled to take place today in 15 wards, with the remaining wards to be engaged on Thursday. The County Committee Member for Finance and Socio-Economic Planning, Damaris Kavoi, officially opened the Wote ward forum at Wote Social Hall on Tuesday.

In her address, Kavoi highlighted a significant budget cut of Kshs. 430 million due to reduced allocation from the National Treasury. This reduction impacts planned projects and programs at the ward level. She assured County residents that the County Government is actively seeking solutions to address the deficit and ensure continued service delivery to residents.

The theme of the current Annual Development Plan is “Stimulating Local Economies for Shared Prosperity. “

MAKUENI COUNTY PARTNERS WITH STRATHMORE UNIVERSITY AND WRI FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

In a bid to foster sustainable energy development, Makueni County has joined forces with Strathmore University and WRI in an energy training collaboration. Spearheaded by the Housing and Energy Directorate, the collaborative workshop aimed at bolstering energy-saving initiatives across various government departments, marking a significant leap towards sustainable energy development.

The workshop convened teams from health, energy, agriculture, and water departments for an in-depth exploration of energy management strategies. Spearheaded by Housing and Energy Chief Officer Eng. Naomi Nthambi, the training emphasized the pivotal role of energy conservation in the county.

Eng. Nthambi shed light on the Makueni County Energy Plan and ongoing pilot projects geared towards enhancing energy efficiency. Participants delved into crucial topics such as Energy Management Regulations and Appliance Energy Performance during interactive discussions.

Expanding its reach, the workshop included a specialized session for Technical Working Group and Facility Managers, who actively delved into practical implementation strategies for energy management county-wide.

Key takeaways from facility managers highlighted the importance of finalizing the Energy Planning Process, establishing Facility-Level Energy Management Teams, and fostering communication and collaboration among teams. The discussion also stressed the significance of implementing mechanisms for Monitoring, Control, and Reporting, alongside regular policy reviews to adapt to evolving energy management practices.

Covering practical aspects including Energy Management Systems and Lighting Systems, this collaborative effort underscores Makueni County’s steadfast commitment to forging a sustainable future through informed energy practices.

MAKUENI COUNTY EMPOWERS YOUTH WITH MOTORBIKES IN KIKUMBULYU SOUTH

Makueni County Government on Friday empowered youth in Kibwezi Kikumbulyu South Ward through the issuance of 16 motorbikes to support boda boda transport and small-scale business ventures, as part of its ongoing youth economic empowerment programme.

The initiative, spearheaded by the County Government under the leadership of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., aims to enhance youth livelihoods, promote self-employment, and reduce unemployment across the county.

County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Youth, Sports and Social Services, Eng. Sebastian Kyoni, said the motorbikes are meant to provide sustainable income opportunities and urged beneficiaries to take good care of the assets to ensure long-term benefits. He reaffirmed the county’s commitment to scaling up youth empowerment initiatives.

Kikumbulyu South Ward Representative Jades Kalunda commended the county government for prioritising youth empowerment and called on young people to actively participate in government programmes.

MAKUENI COUNTY EMPOWERS OVER 500 YOUTHS THROUGH SOFT SKILLS TRAINING

More than 500 youths from Ivingoni Nzambani Ward have benefited from a soft skills training programme organized by the Government of Makueni County through the Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services.

The training, held at Thongoni area on Thursday, and at Nzambani earlier on Tuesday marked the culmination of a youth empowerment initiative aimed at equipping young people with practical skills to enhance their employability and readiness for the job market.

Participants were taken through key areas including CV writing, interview preparation, mental health awareness, prevention of drug and substance abuse, as well as sensitization on employment and job opportunities.

Speaking during the event, County Executive Committee Member Eng. Sebastian Kyoni reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to supporting programmes that empower young people and improve their livelihoods.

The programme forms part of the county government’s broader agenda to strengthen youth capacity, promote economic empowerment and address social challenges affecting young people across Makueni County.

MAKUENI COUNTY EMPOWERMENT FUND DIGITIZATION WINS PRAISE AT NATIONAL DEVOLUTION CONFERENCE

Makueni County’s digital transformation of the Makueni County Empowerment Fund (MCEF) procedures has been recognized as a pioneering achievement at this year’s Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, officially opened by President William Ruto on Wednesday.

The digitization, developed in partnership with Safaricom, aligns perfectly with the conference’s focus on leveraging technology to bridge socio-economic gaps.

The re-engineered MCEF platform will streamline access to startup capital for social enterprises and community groups.

The upgraded fund is set for official rollout next month, empowering more beneficiaries with timely, equitable support.