President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga full of praise for devolution

President Uhuru Kenyatta with CORD leader Raila Odinga at the Devolution Conference at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

KENYA: The Government descended on Kisumu with a bang Tuesday as the Second Devolution Conference got under way in Kenya’s third largest city. Opposition kingpins were not left behind. The lakeside city hosted the crème de la crème of the country’s political, commercial and diplomatic circles radiating with smiles. Ordinary Kenyans were also out in large numbers to witness the new face of Kisumu.

The agenda on the table was that most polarising new governance structure that forms the grinding edge between the national and county governments: Devolution. The conference brought together clusters of leaders who have been squaring off in rallies over the level of powers and financial controls and which side should wield them.