The Devolution family is abuzz with anticipation as plans for the Devolution Conference 2025 officially kick off. Scheduled for August 12th to 15th, 2025, this high-profile national summit will be hosted in Homa Bay County, marking a significant moment in Kenya’s decentralization journey.
With the theme “For the People; For Prosperity: Devolution as a Catalyst for Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice,” the conference aims to spotlight the transformative power of county governments in bridging socio-economic gaps and accelerating development. The sub-theme, “Re-engineering County Governments to Accelerate Development and Close the Socio-Economic Divide,” signals a renewed commitment to making devolution work for all Kenyans, particularly those in marginalized regions.
High-Stakes Discussions and Multi-Agency Collaboration
The Multi-Agency Steering Committee spearheading the planning brings together key stakeholders, including:
✅ Council of Governors (CoG)
✅ Executive Office of the Deputy President, represented by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Devolution
✅ Senate and County Assemblies Forum
✅ Homa Bay County Government (the host county)
✅ Youth Council, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
This diverse lineup underscores a whole-of-society approach to strengthening devolution, ensuring that both state and non-state actors contribute to policy and governance discourse.
Why This Conference Matters
With Kenya facing pressing economic and governance challenges, Devolution Conference 2025 will serve as a crucial platform for assessing the successes, failures, and future of devolution. County governments remain the backbone of localized development, and this year’s discussions will focus on bold reforms, financing models, and policy shifts needed to enhance service delivery, accountability, and equitable development.
Additionally, Homa Bay’s selection as the host county reflects a growing recognition of its strategic role in devolution. The county, under Governor Gladys Wanga, is poised to showcase its development milestones and demonstrate how devolution can uplift local communities when properly implemented.
What to Expect
Delegates can anticipate high-level engagements with top national leaders, governors, legislators, private sector players, and grassroots representatives. Breakout sessions will dive into priority areas such as healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment, digital transformation, and fiscal autonomy for counties.
As the planning intensifies, all eyes are now on Homa Bay, where history will be made as Kenya charts the next chapter of devolution. Will this conference spark real change, or will it be another talk shop? The answer lies in the resolutions made and the commitment of leaders to act on them.
Stay tuned for more updates as the countdown to Devolution Conference 2025 begins!
