Jama eyes Devolution Conference after Garissa hosts national event

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Fresh from hosting the three-day Fourth Devolution Sensitisation Week, Garissa has declared itself ready to host even bigger national events, including the Devolution Conference.

Governor Nathif Jama said the successful event demonstrated the county has the capacity to organise large-scale national gatherings while delivering tangible economic benefits to residents.

He said hundreds of participants from across the country injected millions of shillings into the local economy through spending on accommodation, transport, food, entertainment and other services, giving businesses a significant boost.

Jama spoke to delegates at Young Muslim Junior School.

"Hosting the Devolution Sensitisation Week is not the destination; it is only a stepping stone. It is a testament to the county's growing stature, improved security and expanding hospitality industry," he said.

"Our vision is to make Garissa a recognised national conference, investment and tourism destination and we are ready to work with all stakeholders to achieve that goal."

Jama described the event as a turning point for the county, saying it had helped dispel long-held misconceptions about Garissa.

"Many people come to Garissa carrying perceptions formed from a distance. But once they arrive, they discover a peaceful, welcoming and rapidly developing town with enormous investment opportunities and immense potential for growth," he said.

According to the governor, Garissa is the first county in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (Asal) region to host a national event of such magnitude under the auspices of the Council of Governors.

He said the milestone reflects growing confidence by the national and county governments in Garissa's security, infrastructure and capacity to host high-profile meetings.

Jama said the county has steadily built a reputation as a preferred venue for national events over the past year.

Among the major events hosted in Garissa are the National Early Childhood Development Conference, the National Science Congress finals for junior and senior schools, and the ongoing National Music Festival finals for schools and colleges at NEP Girls High School.

Buoyed by that success, the governor announced that Garissa will formally bid to host the next Devolution Conference, one of Kenya's largest governance forums. It attracts thousands of delegates from the 47 county governments, the national government, Parliament, constitutional commissions, development partners, the private sector and civil society.

He said the county government would work closely with elected leaders from Garissa to lobby for the conference, arguing that taking the event to northern Kenya would not only showcase the region's progress but also deepen national integration.

Support for Garissa's bid came from Wajir Deputy Governor Ahmed Muhumed, who said the region has repeatedly proved sceptics wrong by successfully hosting major national events.

"As Wajir, we set the standards quite high. We hosted the Pastoralist Leadership Summit and later the Madaraka Day celebrations. Many doubted us, but we proved them wrong. There is absolutely no reason why Garissa cannot host the next Devolution Conference," he said.

Muhumed urged the Council of Governors to consider Garissa's bid, saying the county has demonstrated it has the facilities, leadership and organisational capacity to host thousands of delegates.

Responding to the request, Baringo Governor and Council of Governors chief whip Benjamin Cheboi said the council would deliberate on the selection of the next host county before making a final decision.

The Devolution Conference has become Kenya's premier platform for discussing the progress, challenges and future of devolution since its inaugural edition in 2014.

Originally held annually, the Council of Governors resolved after the 2023 conference to make it a biennial event.

Previous hosts include Kwale, Kisumu, Meru, Kakamega, Kirinyaga, Makueni, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu and Homa Bay.

Winning the right to host the conference is widely regarded as a major milestone for counties because of the economic gains generated by thousands of delegates, increased national visibility, investment opportunities, and the opportunity to showcase local culture, infrastructure and development achievements.