President William Ruto is on Wednesday expected to officially open the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County.
The President is scheduled to preside over the first session of the meeting, which brings together more than 10,000 delegates from across the country.
The conference provides an opportunity for county governments to review the progress of devolution and find ways to address the challenges that hinder development in the regions.
This will be the second time the lake region has hosted the national event. A similar conference was held in Kisumu in April 2025.
The theme for this year’s conference—"Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice in Development and Service Delivery" —speaks directly to the need for fairness and balance in governance.
Billboards welcoming President William Ruto erected in Homa Bay ahead of the devolution conference on August 12, 2025.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation
The main venue for the event is Homa Bay High School, with supplementary events at Raila Odinga Stadium and Tom Mboya University. The side events will include thematic discussions, exhibitions and collaborative forums.
According to the f the Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, Kenya continues to grapple with inequitable resource distribution, economic disparities and the marginalisation of vulnerable populations.
He emphasised that the conference presents an opportunity for leaders to propose sustainable ways of ensuring county governments receive funds on time to meet development goals.
“This year’s discussions will examine how county governments, in partnership with the national government, can broaden the economy to accommodate the youth, improve access to healthcare, education, housing, and public services, and eradicate poverty along with structural inequalities,” Mr Abdullahi said.
At the close of the conference, delegates are expected to draft and adopt resolutions that will guide the development agenda for counties in the years ahead.
“These resolutions must translate into policy, legislative, institutional, and administrative measures. Only then can we empower county governments to create meaningful economic growth for their citizens,” Mr Abdullahi noted.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said the county has made considerable progress in promoting inclusion, particularly for young people and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Her administration, she said, has already secured investment commitments for the establishment of companies within the Riwa Special Economic Zone.
“The majority of those employed in the zone will be young people. Thousands stand to benefit both directly and indirectly,” she said.
According to the official programme, the theme of the first day—Good Governance—will focus on integrating the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity into the everyday operations of county governments. Delegates will discuss strategic priorities aimed at positioning devolved units as centres of excellence in service delivery.
The second day will centre on Human Rights and Social Justice, with participants reflecting on the hurdles encountered in entrenching rights-based governance and proposing actionable steps to place counties at the heart of upholding human rights.
On Friday, attention will shift to Financing Equity and Inclusion, with discussions focused on resource allocation frameworks and financial strategies for inclusive development.
During the four-day event, residents and leaders alike hope for meaningful outcomes. Many locals view the gathering as a potential catalyst for renewed investment in the lake region and beyond.
Mr Walter Opiyo, leader of the Homa Bay Bunge la Wanainchi, expressed cautious optimism, noting that past conferences have often produced underwhelming results.
“Twelve years since the advent of devolution, several regions still struggle to realise its promise. Corruption has become entrenched in some counties. Rather than focusing on transformative development, many are chasing personal wealth,” he said.
“Our hope is that the National Government will commit to the timely disbursement of funds to county governments. We have our fingers crossed that this conference marks the beginning of real change,” he said.
