The 8th Devolution Conference was held on 15 – 19 August 2023 at Eldoret Sports Club, Uasin Gishu County. The convention, themed 10 Years of Devolution: The Present and the Future set the stage to relook the devolution journey. The conference was officially opened by H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. Other dignitaries included H.E Rigathi Gachagua, EGH who officially closed the conference, Rt. Hon. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, EGH. who presented a keynote address, Chair, Council of Governors Governor Ann Waiguru, EGH, OGW.

The Conference whose overall theme was “Driving Transformation from the Local Level: County Government as the Centre of Economic Development” and the sub-theme: Driving Transformation from the Local Level” was hosted by the Council of Governors (CoG). The vision of CoG is “Prosperous Counties that are drivers of social-economic growth and development and quality service” and the mission is “To deepen devolution through coordination, consultation, information sharing, capacity building, performance management, and dispute resolution”. CoG's motto is 48 Governments, 1 Nation.

The objectives of the conference were: to assess and propose measures that County Governments can adopt to enhance transformative service delivery for improved citizens’ livelihoods and a stronger business environment; to examine the benefits of adopting technology and digitization and the potential impact of economic development and discuss strategies for promoting innovation and digital transformation in the devolved context; to reflect on the trends and the challenges that have been experienced in financing the devolved sectors and recommend innovative approaches for sustainable and adequate financing for County Governments; to evaluate the effectiveness of good governance practices in promoting equitable and sustainable development in the devolved units; to examine the strides that have been made in the affirmative action agenda and propose responsive measures that can be adopted to guarantee the place of women, the youth and the most vulnerable in governance; to discuss strategies that will ensure that blue economy benefits are distributed equitably, promote job creation, and address social and economic inequalities among others.

The Conference brought together 10,000 local and international delegates to discuss, learn, and share best practices on pertinent issues affecting sub-national governments and provide trade and investment opportunities for communities in Uasin Gishu and the neighboring Counties. The conference featured rich panel discussions and break-out sessions that sought to address some of the key challenges affecting various sectors and emerging issues such as peace and security and climate change issues.

The University of Eldoret was among the over five hundred Exhibitors at the Devolution Conference. The Exhibition team led by Corporate Affairs and Marketing Manager Dr. Wambui Ng’ang’a and Town Campus Deputy Director Administration and Marketing Dr. Georgine Kemboi marketed the University by showcasing our academic programs and pitching among the delegates and exhibitors the forthcoming 2023 Agribusiness Trade Fair. We also handled inquiries and guided on the ongoing Inter-University Transfers. The Eldo-Baraka wheat variety (resistant to wheat rust) and Beetroot Powder (value added) were showcased. The University Stand attracted hundreds of delegates and exhibitors who were keen to learn about the institution. It was a great networking opportunity and establishing future linkages.