President Uhuru Kenyatta, his Deputy William Ruto and Opposition Leader Raila Odinga disappointed Senators, MCAs and Kisumu residents when they failed to honour an invite to the 4th Legislative Summit that started on Monday.
The president himself was expected to open the event, give a keynote address, award national honours to county assembly speakers and launch the Global Champion for Youth Agenda.
However, on the material day, Uhuru was nowhere to be seen and nobody represented him or read his speech.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula regretted Uhuru's absence despite the president praising devolution during the conference that was held in Kirinyaga County in March.
He added that the Head of State and the former PM should have shown the same support to the Kisumu summit that has brought together over 4000 delegates among them senators and the MCAs.
He urged the country's leaders not to show preference to issues concerning governors over those facing devolved legislative assemblies.
The Council of Governors Communications Officer told Kenyans.co.ke that the ongoing summit was organised and managed by the Senate and the County Assemblies and that the COG only engages when invited to.
Moses Ochieng, a resident of Kisumu told The Star that he eagerly waited for Uhuru only to be disappointed.
“We wanted him to talk to us and address some of the issues we feel are affecting the nation,” he commented.
Vegetable vendor Joyce Auma also had high hopes on Kenyatta's tour of Kisumu.
“Last time he was in the region he launched projects which are of benefit to us. We expected him to come and tell us the progress of ongoing government programmes,” she told reporters.
