Kenya has settled on May 2022 as the date when Kisumu County will host the four-day 9th edition of Africities Summit.
This follows an earlier tour this week where Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter led a delegation of Kenyan officials to Egypt to attend the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) North Africa Caucus to mobilize maximum delegates to the much-awaited Africities Summit.
The summit will be hosted in Kisumu City where Kenya would showcase her strides in economic and political decentralization as well as vast investment prospects.
“The commitment of delivering a successful summit next year is the major focus of the President of the Republic of Kenya as we wade through the difficult stage of the coronavirus pandemic,” CS Keter.
Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o said the County had put in place strategies to deliver the most memorable summit despite disruptions of the COVID-19.
“We have made tremendous progress in our preparation journey despite the hiccups caused by COVID-19 pandemic. I assure you that the Government of Kenya and Kisumu City are ready for a summit that will go on record as the most memorable Africities gathering,” said Governor Nyongo.
The four-day event which will start from May 17 to 21, 2022 has so far been postponed twice due to coronavirus pandemic. It was first to happen in November this year but was pushed to April next year.
In his address to the nation during the Madaraka Day celebration, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the event will feature ministers, mayors and leaders of local authorities, representatives of civil society, the private sector, academia, national, regional, and international financial institutions, development partners and other stakeholders.
Africities is a brainchild of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa which focuses on the need for the continent to learn about, promote and present a new approach to sustainable development.
The event is premised on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.