Traders in Western Kenya will rake in millions of shillings this week as the fifth devolution conference gets underway in Kakamega.
The annual event brings together over 6,000 delegates paying Sh20,000 each for attendance, as well as devolution experts, governors, politicians, scholars, among others. There are projections the event will generate over Sh200 million in revenue for the region.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who will be the chief guest on Tuesday during the official opening, is expected to turn up with a number of experts ready to venture into business in the region.
The event’s programme has the President, Deputy President William Ruto and NASA leader Raila Odinga, Cabinet Secretaries, governors and their deputies, diplomats, donors and Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) as main guests.
The President is expected to be a panelist in the high-level engagement on intergovernmental relations, together with Chief Justice David Maraga, Speakers Justin Muturi (National Assembly) and Ken Lusaka (Senate), Council of Governors Chairman Josphat Nanok and UK High Commissioner and chair, Devolution Donor Working Group, Nic Hailey.
Host Governor Wycliffe Oparanya urged traders to tap into opportunities offered by the conference.
He said small-scale businesses, including those in the hospitality industry, vegetable vendors, fish mongers and dairy farmers should showcase and sell their products to the delegates.
Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said most of the services during the conference will be provided by locals so as to feel the effects of devolution.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
“We are talking of over Sh200 million, half of which is coming from the government. Each governor is contributing Sh2 million and for a county government to come and showcase, the governor cannot come alone. Each county will have its own stand,” said Wamalwa.
“As a ministry, we are contributing Sh25 million. Our partners are also contributing. It will be a week-long event, where we will be talking about regional blocs and we plan to develop a policy towards that.”
He said the region has the capacity to host the event, where hotel accommodation will be extended to neighbouring counties of Kisumu, Bungoma and Vihiga.
The Council of Governors (CoG) will cater for the accommodation of governors, their deputies, executives and speakers of County Assemblies while the rest of the delegates will book their own hotels.
The secretary of the County Joint Hospitality Committee and Kakamega Hoteliers Association Chairman, William Ouya, said all hotels in Kakamega County can only accommodate 3,000 people.
“Today we are sending one message to the entire country and it is that Western is ready, Kakamega is ready to host the fifth devolution conference. We are looking forward to a very robust engagement,” said Wamalwa.
The event themed “Sustainable, productive, effective and efficient governments for results delivery” is anchored around President Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda and governors are optimistic the event will be successful as they take stock of the challenges and milestones achieved so far.
“Our focus is the Big Four. We have improved intergovernmental relations and therefore the counties are going to be the theatres for the Big Four. We aspire to build partnerships with county governments and development partners,” said Wamalwa.
Raila will issue a keynote address on Wednesday, while Ruto will close the event as he launches the governors’ inaugural address book and county spatial planning guidelines.
For the first time, the Senate will fully engage in the conference, unlike in the past when senators gave it a wide berth and instead launched the annual Legislative Summit.
