Machakos Chief Officers sworn in

The 26 Machakos County Chief officers were sworn into office today.

Some of the new Chief Officers 

The Accounting Officers to different county departments took oath at the Machakos White House in a ceremony witnessed by Governor Wavinya Ndeti, her Deputy , Francis Mwangangi, the County Assembly Speaker, Hon. Anne Kiusya, the Assembly Clerk, Mr. J.L Mutisya, Members of the Machakos County Assembly, several County Executive Committee Members among other dignitaries.

They are set to assume office in the ten (10) Departments of Machakos County immediately- meaning that ministries will have more than one chief officer.

Speaking during the event, the Speaker-Anne Kiusya asked the new leaders to be diligent while serving the great people of Machakos as well as to pursue public service principles and values as enshrined in their oaths of office.

Mutula sets up Investment Taskforce for Makueni

WOTE: Monday January 9 2023

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has established a Taskforce to drive industrial investment in the county.

It will be chaired by his Deputy Ms Lucy Mulili. Today, Mulili  chaired a session of the taskforce to ensure Makueni’s industrialization and investments preparedness.

The Taskforce agreed to draw an investment engagement plan encompassing resource mapping, primary investment opportunities identification, investments policy formulation and creating an intergovernmental collaboration framework with the state department of industrialization and other state actors. 

With support of California based business consultant Dr Jerry Ngati, the taskforce is upbeat that Makueni County is capable of championing and leading the scramble for industrialization among counties outside of major Kenyan cities.

Assembly approves Gvn Wavinya's Chief Officers

Machakos County Assembly today approved all 26 Chief Officer nominees.

They were unanimously approved in a sitting chaired by Assembly Speaker Mrs Anne Kiusya.

The approval is pursuant to the provisions of Section 45 of the County Governments Act, 2012, Sections 4 and 9 of the Public Appointments (County Assemblies Approval) Act, 2017 and Standing Order 190(5)(f). The 26 nominees are;

1. Muiya Andrew Mwema- Agriculture and Food Security

2. Maureen Mwende Maingi -County Administration and Decentralized Units  

3.  Charles Kyalo Mutinda- ECDE & Vocational Training

4. Ngumbau Mutiso Benedict- Co-operative Development

5. Col. Gedion Mbithi- Inspectorate, Fire Fighting and Emergency Services

6.  Simba Simon Mwako- Education

7.  Mercy Ndululu Mutua- Office of the Governor

8. Metho Benson Kituku- Environment

9.  Mutunga Anthony Mutuku- Lands

10. Paul Mawili Wambua- Urban Development

11.  Mwanza Lawrence Maingi- Public Service and Performance Management

12. Adipo Collins Otieno- Finance

13. Mike Jace- Revenue Management

14. Mulei Stephen Kyalo- Climate Change

15. Simon Kirima Muraguri- Energy

16. Guliye Abdullahi Yunis- Water, Sanitation and Irrigation 

17. Mutua Tobias Mutuku- Economic Planning

18. Munyao Joseph Mutwiwa- Industry and Innovation

19. Kanyae Bruce Isika- Youth

20. Papaa Koin Lompo- Public Works

21. Dr. Miyienda Wycliffe- Medical Services

22. Kioko Bernice Mueni- Gender, Sports and Social Welfare

23. Kasivu Justus Musau- Roads and Transport

24. Kala Mohammed Rashid- Public Health

25. Kitheka  Simon Kioko- Trade and External Relations

26. Vincent Muendo Musili- Culture and Tourism

Makueni,Taita Taveta take border dispute to COG for resolution

By Governors Press Service,

Nairobi: Thursday, January 5, 2023

The Council of Governors( COG) Has taken the lead to resolve a long standing boundary row between Makueni and Taita Taveta counties.

The meeting comes a few days after Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime announced that they will deploy clerks to collect revenue in Mtito Andei township, which is in Makueni County.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior and his Taita Taveta counterpart today attended a meeting at the Council of Governors (COG) offices in a move to find a lasting solution over the escalating Makueni-Taita Taveta border row.

The meeting was convened by the COG after Makueni County raised the issue seeking the intervention of the COG  to find and an amicable solution to the long-standing border dispute.

The meeting was Chaired by  Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka Governor Mwadime and Governor  Achani attended and made their contributions. 

Govenor Mutula said "We would like to see cordial relations and close cooperation between the Counties involved.  

"We are looking forward to the matter being presented to the Summit and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms deployed.

The meeting also sought to determine whether there is a dispute and agree on mechanisms for solving the impasse in the best interest of all parties.

 

Mutula pushed for use of a traditional mechanism for conflict resolution with the COG adopting the same where all the parties will be involved in the whole process and the resolution of the parties be presented to the Summit for determination.

Present during the meeting were Taita Taveta Governor and Kwale Governor H.E Fatuma Achani. Incidentaly,Taita Taveta also has an active border row with Kwale at Mackinnon town along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Guard killed in supermarket raid

By Gastone Valusi in Tala, Machakos.

Police in Matungulu Sub-county, are holding one suspect following an incident in which a supermarket night guard in Tala town was killed  in a night raid.

OCPD Peter Omondi 

Area police boss Peter Omondi yesterday said Mr Richard Kimeu, 40, who was a guard at Fastmatt Supermarket at Tala Town was attacked and  killed on Sunday night by unknown assailants .They then broke into the supermarket ,where they stole cash and goods of unknown value.

"The watchman was hit on head with blunt object as he tried to confront  the assailants and died on the spot.The assailants also stole goods of unknown value and money from the supermarket," Mr Omondi said.

He said the police have arrested one  suspect who is helping them with the investigation.

"We appeal to wananchi to assist us with any information that will lead to arrest of those criminals," Mr Omondi said.

Area MCA, Jackson Ndaka, who visited the scene condemned the incident and urged the police to get to the bottom of the matter.

The body of the watchman was taken  to Kangundo Sub-county Hospital mortuary.

Bishop's New Year call to leaders

By Gastone Valusi

Machakos Catholic Bishop Norman King'oo has urged all leaders from Ukambani region to unite and create job opportunities for young people especially in the areas of manufacturing and value addition so as to desuade them from indulging in drugs and other vices.

Bishop King'oo said Machakos and the Ukambani region lacked industries that can absorb the youths who are out of school and that's why many had resorted to drug abuse.

He said in the past there were industries processing fruits while coffee farming was booming but today there is hardly anything that can be said to be 'made in Machakos'.

The Bishop who was addressing a congregation of men including youths at Koma Shrine said development in the region could be hastened if the Athi-river which passes through the region was cleaned and its water used for irrigation and production.

"Yes,we blame the youths sometimes of taking alcohol but what else is there to do? What else is there to occupy them? Agricultural production and processing can create jobs for our youths,"said Bishop King'oo.

He asked all leaders to unite to develop the region.

"I would like all leaders from Ukambani to unite and develop this region because this is our home, that we may create jobs for our young people,"said the Bishop.

The same sentiments were voiced by Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi who said plans were underway to bring all leaders from the region to a round table to address the issue of the pollution of the Athi-river.

He said unless the river was cleaned, using the water for irrigation and commercial purposes would be like poisoning the residents of the region.

"We as elected leaders including in the County Assemblies have agreed to speak with one voice on the matter of the cleaning of the Athi-river. This river must be cleaned otherwise it will continue poisoning our people,"said Mr Mwangangi.

He said the county did not have the resources required for such an undertaking but would work with the national government to achieve the objective.

Mr Mwangangi said Bishop King'oo was willing to convene a meeting for all leaders to jumpstart the process.

President William Ruto has already formed a Nairobi River Commission with the mandate to spearhead the cleaning of Nairobi River which discharges to the Athi-river.

Last week Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti asked the President to expand the membership of the commission to include representatives of the downstream counties where the Nairobi River and by extension the Athi-river flows.

Komarock society awaits in hope

By Gastone Valusi

Members of the Komarock Housing society are about to settle a long-running despute over their land following resolutions reached by members at a recently convened Annual General Meeting.

Mr Mung'ata 

The land in question has been subject to court cases which have dragged on for over a decade but now the society is set to turn a new chapter, according to the society Lawyer Mr Bernard Mung'ata.

Mr Mung'ata said the issue surrounding part of the land, about 23 actares which had initially been under compulsory acquisition by the government through the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation,had been resolved and the rest of the land was now by law supposed to revert to the community.

"We had a Annual General Meeting "for the Komaroc Housing Society where the Status Report on the Komarock land was issued.Some sticky issues have been ironed out and the members have mandated me to go ahead and complete the resolution of the despute and I assure them in a few months the despute will be resolved,"said  Mr Mung'ata.

Mr Mung'ata said he had also held consultations with former Machakos County Senator and current United Democratic Alliance Chairman Johnson Muthama who has been pushing for the rights of the Komarock members for a long time.

"The history of the land is that part of it, about 23 actares had been compulsoryly acquired by KBC and that purpose has now been exhausted and the rest of the land is by law required to revert to the community,"said Mr Mung'ata adding that land for public utilities including a University had been set aside. 

Mr Mung'ata observed that the cooperative movement in Machakos was under threat due to diminished land resources adding that many of the societies were premised on availability of land resources which are now under pressure due to increased settlement.

The other challenge facing the cooperative movement,Mr Mung'ata said,was infighting for leadership of the cooperative movement.

Senior Chief charged with theft

Did he steal famine relief 
food meant for his subjects?

By Gastone Valusi in 

Machakos

 A Senior Chief in Kangundo Sub-County has been charged with stealing of relief food meant for his poor subjects.

19 shortlisted for CPSB jobs

By Martin Masai

The County Government of Machakos has shortlisted 19 people for the chairmanship and membership of the County Public Service Board.

They have consequently been invited for marathon interviews to be conducted between December 28-29, 2022. The interviews will be concluded before noon on December 29.

They will replace the CPSB team that was removed from office following a vote at the County Assembly. The vote was preceeded by the resignation of the board Chairman Mr Kioko wa Luka,  who quit hours before the vote that also targeted him

A notice published by interview panel leader Mr Joseph Kanyaa also outlined documents that those invited need to present

The notice says "Shortlisted candidates are notified to appear before the recruitment panel on Wednesday 28th December 2022 and 29th December 2022 at the Machakos White House at 9.30am for clearance then proceed to the panel for the interview."

Girl,10, killed in hyena attack

By Dennis Mwikya

A ten-year-old girl was devoured  by a hyena in Katelembu area in the outskirts of Machakos town on Christmas eve.

Area  Josephine Munyiva said the bizzare incident happened when the girl was looking after goats in a nearby grazing field.

Machakos Town area is under pressure from wildlife after it experienced some rainfall forcing animals to migrate from Kapiti Plains is search of pasture. Hyenas have followed them in search of prey.

Farmers have been complaining of attacks on their cattle by wild animals. 

The locals accuse local KWS officers  of laxity in discharging their duties and responding to emergencies even after several complains were launched regarding wildlife.

Septic tank victims named

By The Anchor Reporter

Three men who suffocated to death at a factory in Athi River have been identified.

They died in a septic tank in unclear circumstances at Golden Africa Kenya Limited.

The victims are Stephen Okoth, Mathew Kiprotich and Jimmy Wanjala Nyongesa.
The factory that describes itself as a leader in manufacturing edible oils has remained tight lipped and has not explained how the trio were deployed into the pit without mandatory protective gear and precaution. 

Colleagues told The Anchor that the second victim entered the pit to rescue the first while the third one intended to pull back the second victim.

Area Officer Commanding Police Division Mary Njoki says the trio ran out of oxygen and died.

New Chief Officers inducted

The newly sworn-in group of Makueni Chief Officers have undergone a swift induction to prepare them for public service. 

The induction comes a day after the swearing in ceremony.

The process took place on Friday December 23, 2022 and was undertaken by the County Public Service Board together with Departments of Devolution and Office Of the Governor. 

The chief officers were taken through issues of the law, regulatory frameworks, values and principles of public service to enable them actualize development under Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr's clarion call of "Wauni wa Kwika nesa na ulungalu"( Thirst for doing well and right) 

Story and Picture by Governor's Press Service 

Kenya's game changer

Three suffocate to death at Athi River factory

By Dennis Mwikya

Three people  died  today while on duty at Golden Africa Limited in Athiriver, Machakos County.

The trio died through suffocation while removing sludge from a water treatment pit.

According to Athiriver South OCPD Marry Njoki,the three men had not donned Safety gears as required.

"They died by  way of suffocation due to lack of oxygen. we have taken their bodies to Machakos level 5 hospital morgue",  said Njoki.

Efforts to get comment from the company management proved futile after journalists were barred from accessing the premise.

The company claims on its website to be a leading manufacturer of edible oils.

The police boss said it was responsibility of the company to ensure safety of the workers, adding that postmortem would be conducted to establish the cause and circumstances of death.

Kitui CASB reconstituted

 

Kitui Assembly Service
Board now reconstituted

THE Kitui County Assembly Service Board is now fully reconstituted. The board now comprises of the Speaker, Mr.Kevin Kinengo Katisya who is the Chairperson, taking over from long serving Speaker George Ndoto who lost the fight to cling on to the job for another 5 years. Chuluni Ward Member of the Assembly Mr Mathew Ngovi Vuthi who is the Vice Chairperson representing the Majority Party, Hussein Mwandia MCA Ikutha Ward representing the Minority Party, Mr Wilson Muange Musyoka and Mrs. Ruth Nzambi Joseph.

Lukenya Academy raises the bar in KCPE 2022 exam results

Lukenya Academy continues to maintain its tradition of excellence. With the 2022 KCPE results announced this week, parents and pupils had reason to celebrate an exceptional performance, posting a mean score of 381.97

School Director Mutheu Kasanga said "We would like to thank the almighty God for the wonderful performance by our KCPE class of 2022."

Below are the pupils who scored above 400 marks.

Makueni Chief Officers sworn in

The first batch of Makueni County Chief Officers took  the oath of office today December 22, 2022 atceremony witnessed by Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr within the County headquarters, Wote Municipality.

Machakos launches tree planting

The National Tree Planting Day kicked off at The Masii Polytechnic Machakos County.

 The event was led by Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Penina Malonza and attended by the Principal Secretary Devolution Terry Mbaika, Machakos County Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha,  County Minister for Water, Irrigation, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change Catherine Mutanu and Mwala Area Mp Vincent Musyoka among other leaders.

The event also kicked off in other different counties with the rallying call being combating climate change. Leaders agreed to plant as many trees as possible so as to achieve the desired tree cover in the country.

Kitui Assembly confronts human- wildlife conflict

Kitui County Assembly today took a bold step to resolve raging and historical human-wildlife conflict in the county. 

The delegation was led by Assembly Speaker Mr Kevin Kinengo Katisya.

The speaker, together with MCAs Harrison Maluki (Migwani Ward), Boniface Kimuli (MCA Kanziku), Judith Wanza (MCA Nuu), David Masaku (MCA Mutomo/Kibwea), Dominic Mwamisi (MCA Mutha), Jeremiah Mutua (MCA Nguni), Aaron Kasele (MCA Mutitu), Jacqueline Kalenga, Deborah Kathalu, and Fridah Maua visited

the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Peninah Malonza to discuss the matter. 

Among the issues raised by the County Assembly Members are how the ministry can help in combating the human-wildlife conflict, especially in areas bordering game reserves.

They also sought to know what Corporate Social Responsibility her ministry can offer Kitui residents.

The leaders also sought the creation of tourist sites in Kitui County and the compensation of victims of the wildlife related issues. They also sought to know how the Ministry of Tourism can create more job opportunities to the people of Kitui.

The CS who is a former Deputy Governor of Kitui lauded the leaders for having a youthful assembly, pointing out that it is a turning point for the leadership of Kitui. 

She promised to ensure that issues of human-wildlife conflict are resolved amicably and compensation made where due. She also affirmed that she will push for Kasaala and Ithumba gates in Kitui South to open up for tourists to visit Tsavo East National Park through Kitui. 

CS Malonza urged the members to work with the national government for the benefit of Kitui residents adding that she will engage the Executive arm of the county governments to streamline service delivery between his ministry and county governments.

Water CS tours Thwake Dam

Thwake Dam will be complete by  2024, says CS Wahome

Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation Alice Wahome today reiterated the national government's commitment to ensure completion of Thwake Multi-purpose dam construction by June 2024.

Construction works are at 77 percent comple, the CS said. 

She spoke on Tuesday during a site inspection tour of the dam in the company of Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr , County Commissioner Beverly Opwora, Makueni MP Suzanne Kiamba and County Assembly Speaker Douglas Mbilu. 

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr put up a request to the CS to have treatment works and pipeline laying works start as the dam filling goes on. This, he said, will ensure people can access clean water for domestic use as soon as the dam is complete. The CS pledged to address the request as water access is a key component of the dam.