President William Ruto is set to headline the 9th Devolution Conference currently underway in Homa Bay County, where leaders, policymakers, and development partners are gathered to explore how devolved governance can drive equity, inclusion, and social justice across Kenya.
The week-long meeting, which began on Monday, is anchored on the theme “For The People, For Prosperity: Devolution as a Catalyst for Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice.” Organisers say this year’s focus is on evaluating how devolution has helped bridge socio-economic gaps while also charting a course to accelerate development in counties.
According to the Council of Governors, the conference will serve as a high-level platform for dialogue, allowing participants to share ideas and design strategies that make county governments true centres of excellence in service delivery. At least 10,000 delegates from Kenya and abroad are in attendance, alongside 500 exhibitors drawn from both county and national government.
Discussions are expected to range from tackling systemic inequalities to ensuring fair allocation of resources and improving access to financing. Delegates will also examine how social justice can underpin economic growth, particularly in marginalised areas.
The event, which runs until Friday, is anticipated to yield concrete plans and action points that counties can adopt to improve livelihoods and strengthen local governance.
