By Habil Onyango
President William Ruto, DP Kithure Kindiki and the Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will grace the Devolution Conference 2025 set to be held in Homa Bay starting August 12 up to 15th, 2025 hosted by Governor Gladys Wanga.
According to the program, the President will officially open the event on Wednesday 12, thereafter Raila will be the chief guest on the second day before Kindiki officially closes it on Friday the 15th.
The ninth Conference, which is expected to attract close to 40,000 delegates, will be held at Homa Bay School playgrounds.
According to Nyeri Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga, who spoke on behalf of the steering committee, this year the conference experience will be different but exceptional.
“We will have exciting side events, allowing the delegates to engage in a pyramid of discussions around the conference theme and sub theme,” noted Kahiga.
“I am delighted to inform all participants that side events are being hosted by a mix of stakeholders, Government Ministries and agencies, Civil Society Organizations, private sector, development partners and professional organizations,” he added.
He said that each day of the conference has been designated a thematic area to focus the discussions so that a refined joint communique can be generated at the end of the event.
According to the program, there will be pre-conference activities which will begin from 10 August up to 12 before the President officially opens the conference.
On August 10, there will be a pre-marathon concert at Ruma National Park and this will be followed by the Roan Antelope Half Marathon which will be held at the same park, cycling, skating and performances on August 11.
The delegates will then participate in football matches at Tom Mboya University, boat racing in Lake Victoria and Ajua at the County modern pier.
The President will then open on 13th August morning while in the afternoon, there will be side events on good governance focusing on public participation, citizen and community engagement, social accountability, citizen oversight, civic education, transparency and the rule of law.
Human rights and social justice which will focus on the mainstreaming of socio-economic, political, civil and cultural rights: and social justice principles of access to resources, inclusion, equality and diversity in subnational governance.
Raila is expected to close the day two session where he will address the participants.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki will officially close the event on Friday 15th August after the discussion on Financing equity and inclusion by the participants.
A number of keynote speakers who include Henriette Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Hon. Judith Pareno, the PS for the State Department of Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs and Dr. Abraham Rugo who is the Executive Director Bajeti Hub will give a keynote speech during the event.
The theme for this year’s conference will be: For the people, for prosperity: Devolution as a catalyst for Equity, inclusion and social Justice with a Sub theme re-energizing County Governments to accelerate Development and close the Socio economic divide.
According to Wanga, for the period of the conference, delegates have an array of options to explore Homa Bay County.
She said that there are cultural villages at Tourists Hotel which show the County’s artefacts, folklore, legends and celebrated heroes and heroines, traditional foods among many others.
Wanga added that there are also Island hopping with a guided boat tour across various islands and also a tour visit to local tourism sites which include Ondago Bird Sanctuary, Tom Mboya Mausoleum, fishing expeditions.
She also urged the delegates to ensure they enjoy game drives at Ruma National Park which hosts the endangered roan antelope in the Country and also enjoy sunset at the County’s modern pier.
