The public will have an opportunity to air their grievances at this year’s Devolution Conference, according to governors.

Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, Council of Governors Vice Chair Mutahi Kahiga said public views will be prioritised at the August meeting.

“We have taken a new trajectory because there has been a notion that the government speaks for the people. But now, we have decided to hear directly from the public to understand their sentiments on devolution,” he said during a meeting with stakeholders.

“In the past eight conferences, it was the government issuing direction. This time, we have opened doors for all stakeholders so that anyone who wants to voice their concerns has a platform to be heard.”

The Nyeri Governor added that there will be at least 500 exhibition stands.

The ninth Devolution Conference, scheduled for 12–15 August, will be held in Homa Bay County.

According to the governors, the conference will assess the role of devolution in promoting equity, inclusion, and social justice. It will also provide a platform for consultations and dialogue on how county governance can be structured to accelerate development and bridge socio-economic disparities.

During the meeting, stakeholders, including civil society organisations (CSOs) and the private sector, raised concerns about issues they believe remain unaddressed.

Sandra Muzoga, representing Save the Children International-Kenya, urged the CoG Secretariat to include children’s issues as part of the conference agenda.

“It is timely to address this gap since children form a vital part of the objectives of devolution,” she said.

The Kenya Devolution CSOs Working Group also challenged county leaders to provide data on devolution’s progress to help the public scrutinise its impact since its inception in 2013.

Additionally, they urged the organising committee to prioritise discussions on corruption, transparency, and accountability as key impediments to achieving the objectives and vision of devolution.

“These issues must not just be in writing; we must develop the spirit to address them,” said Mike Mburu, representing the lobby group.

“We would like the Council of Governors to sponsor us or provide a booth to collect citizen voices for presentation during the event.”

Representatives from micro, small, and medium enterprises also appealed to governors to offer affordable rates for exhibitors to ensure they have opportunities to showcase their products.

The private sector called for strengthened monitoring and evaluation systems to enhance accountability.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga urged collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the conference’s success.

“Let us reaffirm our commitment to making devolution work for our people and actualise the profound theme—For the People and for Prosperity,” she said.