Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. Together with Village Enterprise CEO Sazini Mojapelo during the launch of the Makueni Ultra-Poor Graduation Act, 2026. Photo by Gov Press. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Makueni County has taken a major step in the fight against extreme poverty following the launch of the Makueni Ultra-Poor Graduation Act, 2026, a new legal framework aimed at helping vulnerable households attain sustainable livelihoods and improve their living standards.
The Act, launched by Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. in partnership with Village Enterprise, seeks to establish structured interventions targeting residents living in extreme poverty through county funding, donor support, and community empowerment programs.
Speaking during the launch, Governor Mutula said the legislation provides a clear framework that will enable the county government to allocate resources and mobilize development partners to support the poorest households.
According to the governor, statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicate that a significant number of Kenyans continue to live below the international extreme poverty line, surviving on less than one dollar a day. He noted that such households struggle to meet basic needs including food, healthcare, education, and shelter.
“These are people who cannot afford adequate meals, school fees, medical care or even basic household necessities. In some cases, the cost of a two-kilogram packet of maize flour exceeds the amount of money they earn in a day,” said Governor Mutula.
The governor revealed that the county began exploring the Ultra-Poor Graduation model two years ago after learning from the experience of West Pokot County, which pioneered a similar program under former Governor John Lonyangapuo.
He said the newly enacted law obligates the county government to provide budgetary support for poverty alleviation programs while creating opportunities to collaborate with development partners and donors.
The county has so far identified six villages to pilot the programme out of more than 3,600 villages across Makueni. Through collaboration with Village Enterprise and other partners, the county intends to expand the initiative and increase the number of beneficiaries.
Governor Mutula noted that previous cash support programmes that provided vulnerable households with KSh1,000 were insufficient to significantly improve livelihoods, prompting the need for more sustainable economic interventions.
He cited the Makueni Empowerment Fund as another strategy aimed at supporting community groups through affordable credit. Nearly 20 groups have already benefited from loans of up to KSh50,000 to support income-generating activities.
The governor further called for increased support from the national government, arguing that resources allocated to Makueni as an ASAL county remain inadequate to address the needs of all vulnerable residents.
Village Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Sazini Mojapelo described the launch of the Act as a significant milestone in the joint efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
She said Makueni becomes the second county to implement the Ultra-Poor Graduation model after West Pokot, adding that despite being one of the latest counties to adopt the programme, Makueni has made remarkable progress.
“We are honored to partner with Makueni County in this collective effort to lift the ultra-poor out of poverty. The county is demonstrating leadership in driving this important change,” Mojapelo said.
She disclosed that Village Enterprise launched the National Graduation Strategy last year to provide a national framework for helping millions of Kenyans escape extreme poverty.
According to Mojapelo, the organization is also preparing to roll out similar programmes in Taita Taveta County as it expands partnerships with county governments across the country.
She described the launch of the Makueni Ultra-Poor Graduation Act as an important beginning in a long-term journey toward improving livelihoods and creating economic opportunities for vulnerable households.
The new law is expected to strengthen social protection interventions in Makueni while providing a sustainable pathway for households trapped in chronic poverty to achieve economic independence and improved quality of life.
