Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa on Wednesday failed to show up for a scheduled meeting with National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga where he was meant to give a brief on the planned devolution conference set to take place in Kakamega.
Addressing the press outside Capitol Hill offices, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Edwin Sifuna explained that CS Wamalwa was held up in another meeting.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, the CS has had to attend to an urgent matter in Naivasha. The press conference that was supposed to take place in the afternoon will not take place," he stated.
[caption caption="Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa"]
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He added that Odinga had confirmed his attendance after receiving an invitation to the conference.
"Raila will deliver the keynote address on the second day of the conference where he will speak on good governance and transparency, given his history of fighting for the same," Sifuna conveyed.
[caption caption="File image of Edwin Sifuna"]
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Earlier reports indicated that Raila was also set to meet the Council of Governors led by Kirinyaga boss Anne Waiguru at his Capitol Hill offices.
The devolution conference which will take place on April 23-27 will focus on health, trade and investment, agriculture, infrastructure, urban planning, and development.
The conference’s proceedings are expected to give greater publicity to successful policies, programs and initiatives that helped entrench devolution; support the call for the increased allocation of resources to devolution as key to economic growth and development for Kenyans and sustain devolution as the vehicle for inclusive growth process for the nation.
Since its inception in 2013, the devolved system of governance has taken root in Kenya with all the 47 County Governments fully established and operational.
The requisite legislative framework (the County Governments Act, the Intergovernmental Relations Act, the Public Finance Management Act and the Urban Areas and Cities Act) having been put in place, have been instrumental in enabling Counties to set up necessary systems and structures that allow them to perform their functions.
[caption caption="Devolution Conference 2017"]
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President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto have confirmed their attendance for this year's conference.
