It was pomp, colour, fun and a show of opulence as this year’s Devolution Conference kicked off in Homa Bay with a series of side events.

All 47 county governments and key national institutions set up eye-catching stands at Homa Bay High School, showcasing projects and progress made under devolution.

The conference, themed ‘Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice’, aims to inspire innovation and bridge economic divides.

President William Ruto is expected to officially open the meeting today.

By Tuesday, 11,000 delegates had registered, according to Council of Governors (CoG) Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti.

“Most of the things which we planned to do have been done. We have registered 11,000 delegates. More than 10,000 delegates have taken their badges,” Mwiti said.

Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo, who inspected the venue, assured Kenyans of tight security.

“We are working very closely with the CoG to ensure security is intensified during the conference,” he said, noting that safety measures extend to neighbouring counties such as Migori and Kisii, where some guests are staying.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and her Embu counterpart Cecily Mbarire led female leaders in hosting Sigand Nyi Nam, a Dholuo term meaning “story of daughters of the lake.”

The forum, held at Governor’s Park, brought together women from Homa Bay, Siaya, Kisumu, and Migori to address gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, and HIV/Aids.

“Gender-based violence is a problem that we must condemn in society. We are sensitizing these women to help us in spreading the message,” Wanga said.

National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo called for efforts to curb teenage pregnancies so that girls can pursue their dreams.

Beyond policy talk, residents enjoyed sporting events, including a boat racing competition at Homa Bay Pier. Streets were choked with traffic as fleets of luxury vehicles ferried dignitaries, leaving locals in awe.

Booming business

The conference has brought an economic boom to the lakeside town. Hotels are fully booked, with some dignitaries seeking accommodation in Kisii, Kendu Bay, Mbita and Rongo. Others commute from Kisumu and Migori to avoid inflated rates.

“We have made a huge kill. Single rooms range between Sh4,000 and Sh7,000, but they are all booked,” said Maureen Okello, who runs furnished rentals.

Geoffrey Okoth, chairman of the Homa Bay business community, called the event a windfall.

“The conference is good because it has opened for us a lot of business opportunities. We have high hopes in the sale of goods and services during the conference,” he said.

At the venue, counties displayed products unique to their regions, West Pokot showcased honey from its thriving bee industry.

Meanwhile, contractors rushed to install street lights on the Homa Bay–Rodi Kopany road to spruce up infrastructure.

Some shops closed temporarily as crowds gathered to watch the arrival of dignitaries, marking the start of what promises to be a busy and high-profile week for the county.

For one witnessing the rich demonstration by the counties, it is hard to imagine that they are the same lot that has been struggling to implement key projects and fund programmes.