Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru is expected in London early in July where she is to present a clear outline of what the last five years have been for the Kenyan devolution governance journey when she addresses a conference at Chatham House in London.
The conference dubbed ‘Five Years of Devolution in Kenya: Towards Inclusion, Gender Equality and Accountable Governance’ will be held on July 2, 2018.
According to the Chatham House website, Governor Waiguru, who doubles up as the vice-chairperson of the council of governors in Kenya, will be expected to discuss her perspectives on the successes and challenges of implementing devolution.
[caption caption="Governor Anne Waiguru receives opposition leaders at devolution conference in Kakakmega "]
[/caption]
The Chatham House overview of Kenya’s devolution notes that the highly centralized political system in Kenya was in 2013 shaken up by the creation of 47 county governments.
The devolved units were intended to ensure more equitable distribution of power and resources throughout the country.
Waiguru will also dissect into the success of devolution since its inception having been envisioned as a tool that would enable installation of stronger citizen participation not only in governance but also ensuring political accountability.
In the organization’s view, the current Kenyan governance structure would tag along suppression of the fierce competitiveness of presidential elections as more power and resources get closer to the people.
Ms Natasha Kimani, a researcher at the Chatham House Africa Program Academy tackling gender responsiveness in county planning and budgeting will be part of other participants picked to lead the event.
The conference discussions will be chaired by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Executive Director Nathalie Delapalme.
In April this year, President Kenyatta during his address at the Chatham House called on political players to consider the need to have mainstream political players in Kenya to center their agenda on the needs of the people.
[caption caption="Raila Odinga during a lecture at Chatham House in London last year "]
[/caption]
ODM party leader Raila Odinga, in October last year, when the country had sunk into political uncertainty also gave a lecture at Chatham House on the nature and journey of the country’s democracy.
