Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki has urged Kenyans to unite in tackling corruption, ethnic sectarianism, and violent extremism, warning that the three remain the biggest threats to the country’s prosperity.
“The threats facing us in the 21st century are corruption, abuse of resources meant for public services, ethnic sectarianism, and violent extremism. These risks stand in the way of Kenya’s prosperity. It is time to confront them decisively,” he said.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 9th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on Friday, Kindiki said the three-day conference had reaffirmed that devolution was not merely a constitutional aspiration but a practical tool for equity, democracy, and transformative service delivery.
The 9th Edition of the Devolution Conference brought together national and county leaders, civil society, and development partners for dialogue and peer learning on strengthening devolution as a vehicle for equitable development.
The DP reiterated that deliberations at the conference were structured around themes of good governance, human rights, and inclusion, emphasising the importance of public participation, civic engagement, transparency, and fidelity to the rule of law.
He also reaffirmed the national government’s commitment to strengthening devolution, describing it as “the most powerful tool for driving inclusion, equity and social justice for a prosperous Kenya”.
Kindiki commended the National Treasury for maintaining timely disbursement of funds despite a challenging fiscal environment and encouraged collaboration between national and county governments in executing priority projects such as County Aggregation and Industrial Parks and the health sector.
He further stressed the critical role of the young people in shaping Kenya’s future, saying, “The place of the youth will be central in underwriting and defining the future. As we centre devolution on the people, youth, technology, and partnerships between the public and private sectors will define Kenya and Africa’s 21st century.”
Kindiki praised Homa Bay County for successfully hosting the national event. “The warmth of the people of Homa Bay, the efficiency of county leadership and the flawless logistics speak volumes about what devolution can achieve,” he said.
The Council of Governors Chair Ahmed Abdullahi thanked President William Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Azimio leader Raila Odinga for their support in the forum.
He said the three-day discussions tackled critical sub-themes including governance, human rights, social justice, finance, equity, and inclusion.
On the first day of the conference, discussions were around good governance, where delegates explored ways the country could deepen public participation, civic education, transparency, the rule of law and citizen oversight.
“We were reminded that good governance is not a destination but a daily practice. On Thursday, we focused on human rights and social justice, reinforcing the constitutional promise of dignity, equality and non-discrimination. On Friday, we explored the sub-theme of finance, equity and inclusion, seeking ways to sustainably fund the devolution dream, exploring ways counties can unlock access to finance for medium and small micro-enterprises and tackling matters of equitable division of revenue between the two levels of governments,” Abdullahi said.
He added that resolutions adopted from the conference would guide counties in policy interventions and strategic planning.
“Devolution is not just a governance system. It is our mothers accessing maternity care at local health centres, our young entrepreneurs receiving credit for agribusiness, and our children enjoying quality education. The insights we gathered here must inform county strategies moving forward,” he said.
Abdullahi praised Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, the conference steering committee led by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, and other organisers for their efforts in delivering a successful event.
Governor Gladys Wanga described the 2025 Devolution Conference as more than just plenary sessions and panel discussions, emphasising that it was also about people, connections, and shared experiences.
Reflecting on the pre-conference activities, Wanga said the event transformed Homa Bay into a hub of culture, innovation and adventure.
“The youth innovated the 254 Hackathon, skating and bicycle racing, boat racing and island hopping from Rusinga to Takawiri using the water bus. We also engaged in traditional games like Ajua, tug of war and the Roan marathon,” she noted.
The governor commended Deputy President Kindiki, who also chairs the Intergovernmental Partnership and Engagement Committee (IPEC), for reforming the forum into an effective platform for engagement between county and national governments.
She further expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the success of the conference, singling out President William Ruto for officially presiding over the opening of the event and reaffirming the national government’s commitment to devolution.
“I thank the President for opening the county headquarters, the ‘Ugatuzi’ Amphitheatre and for laying the foundation stone for the Tom Mboya University Students’ Village, the first student accommodation project to be launched in the entire country,” she said.
Wanga also paid tribute to ODM leader Raila Odinga, saying his unwavering belief in a Kenya that works for all inspired participants.
She lauded the Deputy President for closing the ceremony with “wisdom and focus for devolution” and praised the Council of Governors for steering the devolution agenda with unity of purpose.
By Sitna Omar
