Makueni County kicks off Mashujaa Day celebrations at Nziu Primary School grounds. The fete is presided over by Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. and County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi. Other officials in attendance include Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Makueni County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu, executive committee members (ECMs), and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), among other officials.
Makueni County Music and Cultural Festival 2024 has officially been launched today at GreenPark Wote. The event highlights the county’s commitment to promoting cultural and musical development.
With 166 entries from various wards, the festival showcases a wide range of local talents including music and dance, elocution, and theatre and film.
The festival themed, “Utamaduni Wetu ni Nguzo ya Utajiri Wetu”, was opened by Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism CECM Dr. Sonia Nzilani. Nzilani stated that, “the county government is dedicated to safeguarding our cultural heritage and advancing the arts as a pathway to economic prosperity.”
Top performers from todays event will advance to the 97th Kenya Music and Cultural Festival set for December 1-10, 2024, in Taita Taveta.
The CECM was accompanied by Chief Officer, Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani and Culture Director Mutua Mulonzya.
A dynamic collaboration between the Trade and Culture directorate, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Natural Product Industry recently unfolded during a three-day workshop at the Kilimani Breeze Hotel. The workshop’s central aim was to validate the Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Innovation Bank (InKiBank) while strategically identifying and prioritizing IK assets within Makueni County for cultural product development and eventual commercialization.
The workshop served as a melting pot of ideas, drawing together an eclectic mix of stakeholders. This included Makueni County’s energetic young culture champions, the esteemed Akamba Clans Governing Council of Elders, and key representatives from the County Assembly committees on Culture and Finance. Notably, various county departments, such as Finance, Trade, Tourism, and the County Attorney, played active roles, demonstrating a holistic approach to both cultural and economic advancement.
With robust participation from diverse sectors, the workshop emerged as a center for innovative thinking and strategic planning. Its overarching goal is to tap into the wealth of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage embedded within Makueni County. By prioritizing IK assets, the initiative aims to unlock fresh opportunities for cultural product development and sustainable commercialization, promising both economic growth and the preservation of the region’s rich cultural identity.
Makueni County is reinforcing its commitment to Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) with the construction of state-of-the-art classrooms, aligning with H.E Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s infrastructure agenda.
During an inspection of ECDE projects in Kithasyu (Thange Ward), Yindundu and Silanga (Mtito Andei Ward), CECM for ICT, Education and Internship, Elizabeth Muli, alongside Chief Officer Irene Makau, urged contractors to expedite ongoing works.
Commending the progress, Elizabeth stressed the transformative impact of modern learning spaces on enrollment and early education quality, reaffirming the County’s dedication to world-class foundational learning.
Makueni County is participating in the 98th Kenya Music Festival at Kibabii University in Bungoma County, representing the Eastern Region in the national arts and culture extravaganza.
The county opened its campaign with four performances on the first day of the festival, which has brought together thousands of learners, trainers and education stakeholders from across the country under the theme, “Enhancing the Creative Economy through Knowledge, Skills and Artistic Production for Sustainable Development.”. The event is expected to close on the 14th August.
The county team made an encouraging start after Ruth Samuel of Kambu Township Secondary School secured fourth position among 14 contestants in the Kiswahili solo verse category with her rendition of Sitaficha Dawa.
Leading the Makueni delegation are County Executive Committee Member for ICT, Education and Internship Japheth Mang’oka and Chief Officer Damaris Makau, who are accompanying the team as the county competes for top honours at the national championships, which run until August 14.
Makueni County continues to strengthen Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) through the construction of state-of-the-art classrooms, aligned with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s focus on infrastructure development.
During a tour of the new ECDE classrooms in Tulimani Ward, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for ICT, Education, and Internship, Elizabeth Muli, called on contractors to fast-track the completion of ongoing projects.
She praised the progress made at Kyooni and Wambuli and urged for continued efforts to meet the county’s educational infrastructure goals.
She emphasized the importance of modern learning environments for boosting school enrollment and providing young students with the best start to their education.
This initiative supports the county’s broader strategy to enhance education facilities across the region.
She was accompanied by Chief Officer, ICT, Education, and Internship, Irene Makau among other departmental officers.
Makueni’s Department of Gender, Children, Youth, Sports and Social Services has stepped up campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) aimed at eliminating gender inequalities and building safer communities.
On Friday, the department concluded a two-day sensitisation forum which brought together key stakeholders, community leaders, and anti-GBV champions as part of Makueni County’s broader strategy to strengthen GBV prevention, response, and coordination.
The forum was graced by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, CECM for Gender Sebastian Kyoni, MCA Bishop Jonathan Muthoka, and other officials. In her remarks, the Deputy Governor called on the community to take collective responsibility in ending GBV, while CECM Kyoni emphasized the need to shift mindsets and support survivors.
The forum focused on promoting cultural values of non-violence, respect, and solidarity. Key interventions included training anti-GBV champions, holding sensitisation forums, engaging men and youth, and offering legal and psychosocial support to survivors.
Participants took part in discussions, role plays, and survivor testimonies, enhancing community understanding of GBV issues.
The department of Lands and Urban Planning has initiated plans to revoke allotment of 54 acres of land in Kiboko B settlement scheme, Kimboo village, over the controversial manner the land was allocated. The decision by Lands Executive Committee Member Sonia Nzilani to revoke the allotments stems from a 2015 National Land Commission advisory that the land allotted to some absentee ‘squatters’ in 1999 be subdivided and newly allotted to at least 41 squatters who had settled on it. The re-allocation was carried out in 2019 for PLOT NO.718 KIBOKO ‘B’, PLOT NO.719 KIBOKO ‘B’, PLOT NO.720 KIBOKO ‘B’ but the process was hijacked by a cartel of wealthy individuals who have since worked on evicting the rightful squatters from the three parcels of land. Dr. Sonia has however recommended revocation of the 2019 re-allocation exercise and said the land will be re-allocated afresh to the list of squatters identified by NLC in 2015 and other deserving ones after a thorough verification exercise.
Makueni County has imposed a 60-day ban on all sand harvesting and utilization activities in Kilome Sub-County, effective immediately.
The directive was issued through an Executive Order signed on 1st October, 2025, by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.
The governor has tasked the Makueni Sand Conservation and Utilization Authority with reorganizing sand operations in the area and ensuring full compliance within the specified period.
The moratorium follows sustained public outcry over unregulated sand harvesting in the Sub-County.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. appoints Cosmas J. Maweu as Chair, County Housing Committee, alongside members Jacinta Mwikali Mbilo, Peterson Mwiu Kimweli and Purity Mwikali Mutisya, following County Assembly approval.
The committee will oversee housing policies and projects and ensure affordable and sustainable housing development in the County.
