Kindiki closes devolution conference

The 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay drew to a close on Friday, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki urging both national and county governments to implement solutions for equity, inclusion, and social justice.

The conference had been running since 12 August under the theme “For the People, For Prosperity: Devolution as a Catalyst for Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice.”

Prof Kindiki praised the progress under devolution, particularly in national projects benefiting counties.

He credited initiatives like County Aggregation and Industrial Parks (CAIPS) and the registration of over 25.5 million Kenyans under Taifa Care as effective evidence of joined-up governance.

Delegates tackled critical themes over the three-day forum, including good governance, human rights and social justice, and financing equity and inclusion.

The sessions produced a joint communique to guide future policy.

At the opening on 13 August, President William Ruto emphasized that the conference must go beyond celebrating past gains and instead spark honest reflection and bold action.

He reiterated devolution’s critical role in fast-tracking the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and called for strengthened devolution as a core pillar of national development.

Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi emphasized that the conference offers counties a critically important platform to advance discussion on equity, inclusion, and justice.

He expressed hope that the final communiqué would propose practical solutions in policy, legislation, administration, and institutional frameworks that meaningfully deliver on Article 174 of the Constitution.

“Our country is grappling with unequal resource distribution, economic imbalances, and social exclusion of vulnerable populations. … My desire is that the communiqué that is read on August 15, 2025, will contain practical and actionable policy, legislative, institutional, and administrative measures that can be adopted to realize the promises of Article 174 of the Constitution of Kenya. May we dwell in unity, peace, and liberty and may plenty be found within our borders--for the people and for prosperity!”