Jhpiego President visits Makueni for a review of Joint Projects

WOTE: January 18, 2023

Jhpiego President Leslie Mancuso and her two Vice Presidents Deborah Bossemeyer and Wendy Taylor on today toured Makueni for an appraisal of the impact of joint projects with the county government on health matters.

The team led by Jhpiego Country Director-Kenya Stephen Mutwiwa and other technical officers was hosted by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili in Wote where they toured several projects’ beneficiaries.

Jhpiego has collaborated with Makueni to develop systems that save lives and guarantee healthier futures for women and their families through multiple projects and partners.These include:

1. The Gates-funded Advance Family planning (AFP) to ensure access to quality family planning through evidence-based advocacy.

2. Working with the Gates-supported Antenatal Postnatal Research Collective (ARC) project, Makueni County has integrated Network of Care (NoCs) into services delivery.  NoCs are a system where public and/or private health facilities deliberately interconnect through an administrative and clinical management model to increases the timeliness of referral processes for Maternal and Neonatal Health complications. 

3. Obstetric Safe Surgery project, supported by Johnson and Johnson which trained more than 80 healthcare providers who are members of surgical teams, leads in charge of maternity and subcounty Reproductive Health coordinators to perform safe, timely caesarean sections. 

4. Building on the clinical, community and data management skills from the Obstetric Safe Surgery project, the county and Jhpiego leveraged Proximie technology— a virtual dial in where senior surgeons support surgeries without being in the hospital physically— to review gaps in service provision for surgeries and charted actions taken.  

5. The Life after Birth project is working with Makueni to introduce quality-assured drugs for excessive bleeding after birth (Heat-stable Carbetocin, tranexamic acid and misoprostol) to Kenya. 

6. Obstetric Fistula project, where Makueni seeks to eradicate fistula through creating awareness, preventing and reducing the surgical backlog of fistula in the county.

-Story by Governor's Press Service 

School demands refund of fees in a sponsorship fiasco

By Gastone Valusi in Machakos.

A parent at  Caring Hearts High School in Matungulu constituency has been given seven days by the school's lawyer to pay Sh 450,000 which she obtained  as sponsorship for school fees for his daughter under false pretences.

Nairobi lawyer Davies Mulani made the demand in a letter to the parent Mr Ezekiel Macharia to pay the school money after his wife Teresia Mbula Macharia  falsely and maliciously went to the school 2019 and  claimed she was  a single poor mother who could not afford school fees and other expenses for her daughter Dorcas Wangari Macharia in order to get full scholarship.

Ezekiel and Teresia Macharia 

In the letter seen by The Anchor Newspaper, the lawyer said after Teresia  made the false claim to the  school their daughter was  offered full scholarship for the last four years from 2019 to 2022. Teresiah also lied to the school administrator that she was single and didn't have a husband.

"The school has now discovered that Teresia is not a single mother and that her husband Ezekiel Macharia is the father to Dorcas and both parents had also encouraged their daughter to keeping lying to school for the entire four years period making their daughter an accomplice," the letter read in part.

The lawyer said the action by the two parents  was a criminal offence of obtaining a benefit under false pretenses which is a criminal offence under section 419 of the Criminal Procedure Code and punishable by a fine or prison  sentence of at least three year under code.

The letter gives the parents  seven days to pay the money back or face legal consequences. "The  action will greatly and negatively impact needy students as the sponsor of the school will be wary of such actions and hence delay sponsorships until background information is  cleared confirmed," the letter added.

Today, the school director Dr Vincent Kituku delivered the demand letter to the couple in a tense meeting at his office. 

Efforts by the media to obtain comments from them were unsuccessful as they fled immediately after the meeting. 

Machakos wrests Masinga water from Kitui

Governors Wavinya Ndeti and Julius Malombe, together with Water Principal Secretary, Dr Kiprono Rono spent the day to address pressing water issues in the region.

The PS begun his day in Machakos with Governor Ndeti and held discussions on a wide range of issues touching on provision of water services to the people of Machakos and also explored areas of partnership between the National Government and the county government regarding the Water agenda.

After holding talks, Gov Wavinya and Dr  Rono signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the utilization and management of Masinga Dam water. 

Under the new arrangement, Machakos County through the Yatta Water company will exclusively manage and distribute 40 percent of the resource to Machakos residents as opposed to the previous plan where Kitui Water and Sanitation Co. enjoyed the monopoly 

The team also toured Maruba dam.The PS has pledged National Government's support in desilting and rehabilitating to promote provision of portable water.

Governor  Malombe later joined Governor Ndeti and Dr Rono at the Masinga Dam intake site in Machakos county.

The meeting, also attended by locals and other stakeholders discussed the ongoing efforts to have the expansion and extension of the Masinga dam intake to increase water supply to both counties.

The PS said the Ministry has plans to install solar at the project to save the counties the cost of subsidizing electricity in the water supply process. 

The governor further highlighted the need to have leaders work with cohesion and prioritize the people in executing service delivery.

Makueni targets mainstreaming land use in planning

The Government of Makueni County today hosted a delegation drawn from the Council of Governors, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and United Nations Development Programme to discuss how land use plans can be mainstreamed in the third County Integration Development Plan (CIDP)

Public Participation key to devolution, says Malombe

Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe (EGH)  said today that his administration will engage the residents on key issues of concern to their well being in his second term in office.

Gov Malombe addressing top officials of his administration 

While addressing the cabinet members,  county government administrators and other Senior county government officials earlier today during the Community Level Infrastructure Development Programme  (CLIDP), Pro poor fees support and Sand dams programme briefing in readiness for public participation on Thursday and Friday this week at KEFRI in Kitui town, the governor said the involvement of citizens in the day to day running of Government encourages ownership of programmes, enhances checks and balances and enhances service delivery at the grassroots.

"This is one of the most important developmental intervention programmes my government will undertake this financial year." He said.

The county chief also called on Kitui people to turn up for the public Participation to give their input noting it was their constitutional right.

Thursday meetings will take place at the village level while on Friday the discussions will be held at the ward level for validations.

52 percent of Kitui's piped water goes to waste, says PS Rono

Ministry of Water statistics show that Kitui county loses 52 percent of water that could be put to better use.

PS Dr.Rono and Governor Malombe

National Water and Irrigation Principal Secretary Dr Kiprono Rono, speaking in Kitui today added that the water could be used for industrial, domestic or irrigation.

The PS spoke when he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe Dr Ronoh on the Non Revenue Water (NRW) to improve water provision efficiency, services and performance in Kitui.

 Governor Malombe said the move by the ministry to reduce water loss will increase the commodity available for use in rural homes, institutions and irrigation among other uses noting it was a  milestone towards achieving water sufficiency in the county and beyond.

 Dr. Ronoh indicated that the ministry had identified critical water projects to be implemented within Kitui to reduce water shortage.

"We require 50,000m3 of water to address shortages in Kitui from the current 11000m3 available.  We'll in the meantime upgrade the Kitui Masinga supply to 18000m3". He said.

The PS added that the ministry will adopt the use of solar power to reduce the costs of management that is currently sh. 10 million monthly in Kitui.

He commmeded  efforts to solve the non revenue water loss as progressive noting that the projects will be integrated with the critical water protection infrastructure to stop vandalism in the projects.

On the 100 dams to be done as per the Ministry's Water Master Plan,  the  PS indicated that the ministry will work on completing Mwingi Kiambere water project, Kitimui dam, Thwake dam the Umaa dam, work on the Kindaruma-Kiomo-Mwingi-Migwani pipeline project from the Kiambere -Mwingi water project among others to curb water scarcity in Kitui.

He further assured of the Ministry's commitment to address water issues  in a strategic way to guarantee Kenyans have adequate* and safe water for use.

Change of Guard at Mwingi Seminary

 The Rev. Fr. Jeremiah Munyoki today handed the leadership of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Mwingi, Kitui County.

He handed over to Rev. Fr. Paul Mutemi after an 11 year helmsmanship as Rector.

 Fr. Jeremiah is proceeding for a sabbatical in the Diocese of Clogher, Ireland. 

The new Rector has served in the seminary for 8 years, with his most recent appointmentas vice Rector on October 27, 2022.

The handing over process was facilitated by the Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. John Mwandi, who in his message congratulated them all for what they have done in the Seminary.

Also present at the handing over was the Bishop's Executive Secretary, Fr. Edward Mulwa, and the Education Secretary, Fr. Julius Muthamba.

Bloodbath leaves man,wife dead

By Mercy Mueni in Kitui

Aa enraged man stabbed himself to death after killing his wife in a knife attack today.

The incident happened in Iani village, Yatta- Kwavonza area in Kanyoonyo Subcounty Yatta, Kitui.

The middle aged man  died while receiving treatment at Kitui Level 4 hospital where he was rushed after the blood bath.

His body had serious injuries he inflicted on himself after domestic row with his wife. Details of the dispute were not immediately available to The Anchor. 

The man is said to have waylaid his wife who operates an eatery at Iani market, descended on her with kicks and blows before stabbing her with a knife killing, her on spot.

The attack was so sudden that efforts by neighbours to respond to the distress call from the woman were in vain as he had already stubbed her. They found her bleeding profusely as she gasped for breath.

The rescuers caught up with the man as he was stabbing himself to take his life but he was stopped by the locals who took him to hospital where he died.

Their bodies have been transferred to Kitui Level 4 Hospital awaiting postmortem.

Police have launched investigations into the matter.

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Gov Ndeti tells off critics

By Gastone Valusi

  in Machakos.

Machakos governor Wavinya Ndeti has defended her move to appoint non-Kamba Chief Officers to the county government while saying that she has done nothing wrong. 

Governor Ndeti during the swearing in of Chief Officers 

Ms Ndeti who witnessed the swearing in of 26 Chief Officers among them six from other communities said there were voters from other communities who voted for her in the last general election and they also deserved to be represented in the government.

She added that the Constitution provided for inclusion of minority communities in county governments as the dominant local communities took the lion's share of 70 per cent of positions in government.

Ms Ndeti has braved a barrage of criticism for a decision to include officers from the Somali,Luo,Maasai and the Kikuyu communities in her government with Machakos Town MP Caleb Mule being vocal on the matter saying Machakos residents needed to be considered first in any job opportunities in the county.

He said other counties were exclusively employing 'their people'.

But Ms Ndeti discounted such assertion saying Machakos was home to many communities.

"There are those opposed to my decision to include other tribes in my government but I ask them,are there no other tribes living in Machakos? Let us learn to be accommodative. If you go to Kajiado or Isiolo you will find Kambas there,"said governor Ndeti.

She said the majority of officers in her government were from the local Kamba Community.

Ms Ndeti thanked the County Assembly for not being tribal as they had approved the list of Chief officers without discrimination.

 

She urged the Chief officers to be dedicated in their service to the people and shun corruption.

"I thank the County Assembly for not being tribal. If the assembly was biased the list of Chief officers would not have passed but they recognized that we also have other communities in Machakos"she said.

She urged her critics to rise above tribal politics adding that all communities were inter-dependent.

Governor Ndeti promised to make Machakos a model county especially on utilization of public resources.

She urged the Chief Officers to seal all corruption loopholes in their departments since they were the accounting officers in their dockets.

The swearing in ceremony at the governor's office was presided over by Machakos High Court Deputy Registrar Mr David Analo.

Deputy governor Francis Mwangangi downplayed claims of divisions between the governor and himself saying there were no differences between them.

He said he was Keen on helping his boss deliver on her mandate as her success would be his own success and that the voters will judge both of them on account of their service delivery as promised during the campaigns.

He defended the governor's choice of Chief officers adding that the inclusion of officers from other communities was what the law stipulated and if the residents were uncomfortable with it they should call for a referendum to amend the Constitution.

3 children killed in arson attack

By Gastone Valusi in Machakos.

Police in Kangundo Sub -County, are investigating deaths of Three children who  were  burnt to death by unknown people at their home  on Tuesday night in kawethei village.

Area police boss Zachariah Bitok yesterday said the three children aged 8,6 and 4 years were burned death at around 8pm  at Kawethei village after their house was allegedly torched by relatives over a land dispute.

Mr Bitok said the minors got burnt beyond recognition after their family members escaped to safety leaving them behind while asleep.

"We recieved reports that there was an attack in the homestead of Mr Richard Mulili but the three children had been already burned to death by the time police officers arrived at the scene. We have launched investigations to establish what exactly happened, " Mr  Bitok said.

He said by the time the officers were headed to the scene, they heard reports that there were people stoning the homestead.

"But later on, it turned out that there were invaders who had set ablaze the homestead and its occupants disappeared into the bushes to hide. But, three children who were sleeping in the houses, got burnt beyond recognition," Bitok said.

The bodies were moved to Kangundo Level Four Hospital Mortuary awaiting autopsy.

The police boss the three bodies were discovered on Wednesday morning.

"We understand that there was a land dispute that has been going on for some time. There were groups of people that were before Kakuyuni Assistant County Commissioner yesterday and they were referred to the court before the incident happened at night," Bitok said.

The police boss warned area residents against taking the law into their hands. "Police enforce the law.Anyone who breaks it will be arrested," he warned. He also appeared to the residents to volunteer information to relevant information authorities when they feel aggrieved.

 Police officers were still at the scene yesterday though no arrests had been made by the time of going to press

Kitui raises bursaries funding

Kitui County Government has raised to Kes. 120 million the budget for bursaries support to needy learners in the FY2022/23 up from Sh 40 million.

Speaking at Mutonguni in Kitui West on Saturday, Governor Malombe said the increment in allocation aims at supporting more learners and improving education standards in Kitui. 

 The programme dubbed pro-poor was mooted by the governor during his first term in office and targets students in secondary schools, vocational training centres, colleges and universities.

 Further, Governor Malombe noted that projects highlighted in his campaign manifesto will be implemented in full.

Malombe stressed that his administration will embark on an ambitious masterplan to curb water scarcity in the county through construction of 60 sand dams per ward that would be a sustainable medium and long-term plan to address perennial hunger in the county.

He said “the plan is to build sand dams in all the wards as jointly mapped by experts from SEKU and the County government of Kitui”.

He restated his commitment to deliver on his election pledges and improve lives of the residents in the third term of devolution through implementation of different projects in areas of healthcare, irrigation, education, road infrastructure, youth development among other growth frontiers as indicated in his county development plan.

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.