President Uhuru Kenyatta to start tour of Central

President Uhuru Kenyatta begins his tour of Central Kenya today amid high expectations from local residents.

The President has his plate full with Central Kenya residents already drawing up a wish-list that they hope he will address during his tour.

Uhuru is expected at the Sagana Stage Lodge in Nyeri this morning where is expected to host a governors' summit for two days.

State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu yesterday confirmed the President's visit, saying his first assignment would be to preside over the fifth National and County Government Co-ordinating Summit.

"The Summit, which is a creation of the Inter-governmental Relations Act, has for the last few years served as the primary body charged with overseeing and facilitating inter-governmental relations between the two tiers of government established under the Constitution," Mr Esipisu said in his briefing yesterday.

According to the details released by the organisers of the summit, this year's convention is themed 'Celebrating the Transformation'.

"It will serve as a time to reflect on and celebrate the progress that has been made over the last few years while assessing the challenges that impede efficient operationalisation of devolution," a statement from State House said.

The President and the governors are expected to discuss the challenges that have hit devolution, which is in its third year of implementation.

While in Nyeri, the President is also expected to preside over the passing-out parade of recruits at the Police Training College in Kiganjo.

The President is also expected to hold meetings with leaders from the Central Kenya counties.

Uhuru is also expected to grace the homecoming ceremony of newly appointed Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri in Nanyuki.

Yesterday, Nyeri leaders were held up in a meeting to fine-tune a memorandum to be presented to the President during his tour.

The meeting held at the county headquarters affected the proceedings of the local county assembly, which was adjourned for lack of quorum as MCAs skipped its opening to attend the strategy forum.

Leaders have already petitioned the President to indulge in the coffee topic by disbanding cartels, which have been wrecking farmers' dreams of earning a decent life from their crop.