The Makueni County Council will benefit from 10 million Euros (Sh1.11 billion) set aside by the European Union to develop their social and economic structures when the devolved government comes into place.

It is one of two councils set to benefit from the funds The council was approved for the funding last week by a European Union delegation that had been sent to evaluate an ICT project it funded three years ago.

Speaking yesterday in his office, town clerk Fredrick Ondede said the EU delegation was on a mission to identify two councils covering the jurisdiction of a county when it approved the Makueni County Council for the funding.

He said the council was selected for properly using the previous funds. "The funding was approved by Ole Kragh, the team leader, Nordic Consulting Group and Kitakaya Loisa following a three-day visit to the council two weeks ago by Amanda deJohncheere from Brussels to evaluate the project," he added.

The money will also be used to train the staff on devolvement. EU is the only partner that funds both development and staff training and is in the process of identifying the other beneficiary for the pilot programme.

In 2010, EU gave Makueni County Council 16,000 Euros to establish community information centres. The council has set up eight resource centres so far.

"The information centres are in Emali, Kibwezi, Kathonzweni, Nunguni, Kikima and Tawa plus the main one based at the council's head office. The community information centres usually provide residents with information about the council including amenities and land in its jurisdiction," said David Kakonzi, the council's EU account manager.