GOVERNOR ANNE WAIGURU ON NEXT DEVOLUTION CONFERENCE

I am truly honoured and delighted to be part of the 5thCounty Executive Committee Members Conference, 2018. Over the years, The Conference has been an important pillar of the Annual Devolution Conference as it acts as a precursor thus its resolutions forms part of the discussions during the Conference.

The devolution conference is used as a platform to share with all devolution stakeholders and the public the success and challenges that have faced devolution since its inception. It also provides an opportunity to recommend innovative ways of improving service delivery. This is therefore to inform you that the next Annual Devolution Conference will be held in March 2019 in Kirinyaga County.

The Council of Governors together with the Ministry of Devolution and ASALs (MoDA), Senate, County Assemblies Forum and other stakeholders carefully thought through a suitable theme for the next devolution conference which is “Deliver. Transform. Measure”.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Conference will adopt the sector based approach in: Trade and the Blue Economy; Urban Development and Housing; Agriculture; and Health.

These sectors are anchored under the Government’s Big 4 Agenda whose key focus is to ensure food security, affordable housing, manufacturing, and affordable healthcare. Since these are devolved functions, it is therefore important that County Governments align themselves accordingly to ensure that we not only achieve the Agenda but also ensure that Counties deliver on their Constitutional mandate.

I am therefore urging the County Officers present to utilize this conference and discuss the topics that will steer robust discussions in the upcoming devolution conference taking into account our mandates as County Governments under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution.

Furthermore, the Constitution requires the County Executive Committee to manage and coordinate functions of County administration, this forum therefore provides the avenue upon which discussions for effective service delivery at the County level should be championed as well as the Big Four Agenda which is part of the devolved functions.

It will be important for Counties to openly share how far they are with the implementation of the Big 4 Agenda especially on issues of sustainable funding, the mode of engagement between the two levels of Government and their roles among others.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

You will agree with me that devolution has introduced major transformation of the State and the society at large. It has opened up fundamental changes in self-governance, public empowerment and universal public service. This is evidenced by the milestones made during the first phase of devolution especially the changes made in the Education sector, water, and roads among other sectors.

As the second phase of County Governments, we should therefore aim higher and ensure that we achieve better results geared towards improving the lives of the citizenry and the development of the Country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As County Governments, we have a common vision which is devolution. Therefore in the Spirit of collaboration and consultation as envisaged in Article 6(2) of the Constitution, County Governments should strive to work together as teamwork is the secrete that makes common people achieve uncommon results.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I conclude, I would like to urge you all to remain committed and focused so as to ensure that the Big 4 Agenda is achieved. Let us put in deliberate measures including our time, energy and resources to ensure that we deliver on our Agenda.

Thank you very much!

H.E Anne Waiguru

Vice-Chairperson, Council of Governors