Over 6,000 delegates are gathering at Kirinyaga University for the sixth annual devolution conference, themed 'Transform, Deliver, Measure,' despite the absence of three governors who cited a Sh2 million subscription fee as a barrier to participation.
Infrastructure upgrades, including road widenings and lighting, have been completed in Kutus town ahead of the event, which includes a football tournament featuring county officials. President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga are scheduled to address the conference, while security measures have expanded to neighboring counties like Nyeri and Embu.
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, and Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha withdrew from the meeting, joining Elgeyo Marakwet ward reps who skipped last year's conference over similar financial concerns. Critics describe the event as a 'talkfest' with limited practical benefits for citizens.
The Council of Governors (CoG) defends the conference as a platform for evaluating governance performance, while the Senate Committee on Devolution accuses absent governors of avoiding accountability. Committee chairman John Kinyua stated the gathering allows stakeholders to review county government performance, noting that withdrawals suggest governors view their roles as private enterprises.
Senate attendance at conferences in Nakuru (2017) and Kakamega (2018) under Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok's leadership demonstrated cooperation between county and national institutions. However, the committee rejected the current governors' reasons for skipping, calling it an attempt to mask failures. Final reports and communiqués from the event will be published post-conference.
