By Fatuma Rashid
Laikipia County should host a future Devolution Conference, County Secretary Koinange Wahome has said.
Koinange expressed confidence that the county has the facilities and infrastructure to host the high-profile event.
“With our vibrant economy, rich culture, and warm hospitality, we are ready to welcome Kenya and the world to experience Devolution in action, the Laikipia way,” he said.
Speaking at the just concluded 9th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, Koinange described the forum as a valuable platform for exchanging ideas, innovations, and experiences from across the 47 counties.
Kwale County hosted the inaugural forum in 2014, followed by Kisumu in 2015, Meru in 2016, Nakuru in 2017, Kakamega in 2018, Kirinyaga in 2019, Makueni in 2021 and Uasin Gishu in 2023. The first seven conferences were held annually, with the Uasin Gishu event marking the transition to a biennial convening.
He noted that counties are learning from each other’s successes and challenges to improve service delivery.
“Beyond the knowledge shared, hosting the forum has brought undeniable economic benefits to Homa Bay,” he said.
He cited increased business for local hotels, restaurants, and transport services, infrastructure upgrades, and greater exposure for the county’s tourism and investment potential.
Koinange stressed that devolution was about more than shifting power from Nairobi and was aimed at unlocking the full economic potential of counties.
He said Laikipia’s strengths include fertile land, a favorable climate, scenic waterfalls, forests, wildlife, a rich cultural heritage, world-class hotels and lodges, and a strategic location.
However, he questioned whether counties were fully exploiting their resources to create jobs, attract investors, and boost local revenue.
According to Koinange, economic empowerment starts with recognizing available resources, adding value to them, and building vibrant markets around them.
He called for sound policies, strong partnerships, and active community participation to grow county economies and reduce overreliance on national allocations.
“This is proof that devolution is not just about governance but also about spurring local economic growth,” he said.
Counties hosting the Devolution Conference are selected based on development challenges, equity focus, logistical capacity, and stakeholder consensus, with rotation ensuring diverse representation.