President William Ruto will oday opened the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, marking the start of a four-day forum that has drawn more than 10,000 delegates from across Kenya.

The meeting, held under the theme “Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice in Development and Service Delivery,” aims to evaluate the gains made under devolution and chart strategies to address persistent challenges hindering regional growth.

It is the second time the lake region has hosted the national event, the previous one being in Kisumu in April 2025.

The main venue is Homa Bay High School, with additional sessions taking place at Raila Odinga Stadium and Tom Mboya University.

The conference includes thematic discussions, exhibitions and collaborative forums, bringing together leaders, policy experts and development partners.

Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said the country still faces unequal resource distribution, economic imbalances and the exclusion of vulnerable groups.

He noted that the gathering provides a platform for both levels of government to develop sustainable solutions, including ensuring that counties receive funds on time to deliver projects.

“This year’s discussions will examine how county governments, working with the national government, can expand the economy to absorb the youth, improve access to healthcare, education, housing and public services, and tackle poverty and structural inequalities,” Abdullahi said.

He stressed that resolutions made during the conference should lead to tangible policy, legal and administrative actions.

“Only then can we empower county governments to deliver meaningful economic growth for their citizens,” he added.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga highlighted her administration’s work in promoting inclusion, especially for young people and persons with disabilities. She cited new investment commitments for companies in the Riwa Special Economic Zone.

“The majority of those employed in the zone will be young people, with thousands benefiting both directly and indirectly,” she said.

According to the official programme, today’s discussions on “Good Governance” will focus on embedding transparency, accountability and inclusivity in county operations to position devolved units as centres of excellence in service delivery.

Thursday will focus on “Human Rights and Social Justice,” tackling barriers to rights-based governance and ways to make counties champions of human rights.

On Friday, the theme “Financing Equity and Inclusion” will examine fair resource allocation and funding strategies to support inclusive growth.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is scheduled to close the conference on Friday. Residents of Homa Bay are hopeful that the event will attract fresh investments and lasting change.

Walter Opiyo, leader of the Homa Bay Bunge la Wanainchi, voiced cautious optimism, noting that many regions have yet to fully enjoy the benefits of devolution.

“Twelve years after devolution began, some regions still struggle to realise its promise. Corruption has taken root in certain counties, with leaders pursuing personal wealth instead of transformative development,” he said. “We hope that the national government will commit to timely disbursement of funds. This conference must be the turning point,” Opiyo added.