UCLG Africa the Umbrella body representing African Local Authorities has today began the Two day Eastern region strategic meeting in Nairobi,Kenya in conjunction with Kenya’s Governors Council.

The two day Nairobi meeting aims at updating the UCGL Africa members in the Eastern region on the Global and African Agendas in the involvement of respective local governments particularly the African Union Agenda 2063,the New Urban Agenda,the Sustainable Development Goals,the Climate Change Agenda and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Speaking during the Opening ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel,Nairobi,Kenya Council of Governors Chairman H.E Josephat Nanok Koli,while welcoming delegates to Kenya’s Capital underscored the importance the country places on decentralization of services as per the new constitutional dispensation,”Kenya is pleased to be part of the UCLG to foster decentralization and capacity building among Africans as peers”Says Nanok.
The Chairman of COG added “that for Africans to progress there was a need of African solutions to African problems”

The Secretary General of UCGL Africa Mr.Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi underscored the importance of having the Eastern Region strategic meeting as a precursor to the UCLG Extraordinary Assembly in Marakesh Morroco later in the year.He also called upon the delegates attending the Strategic meeting to have frank and open discussion which will aid the drafting of UCLG Strategic plan 2019-2021.

Giving the official address during the opening ceremony CAS Ministry of Devolution Kenya Amb.Dado on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary assured the delegates of commitment Kenya has on Africa led initiatives such as the UCLG in advancing devolved system of governance.

“Kenya is very much committed to devolution and took steps to comply with constitutional provision for transfer of functions at ounce,a rare feat in the history of devolution worldwide”Adding that although the budgetary constrains have always been a great challenge,the government is working to have shared revenue flow smoothly and timely”

The meeting aims in coming up with deliberate priority actions required to support local governments to become reliable partners for national governments,regional economic communities,development partners and general stakeholders.

The two day meeting also bring together Presidents of National associations of local governments,leaders of the Network of Locally Elected Women,Permanent secretaries of national associations of local governments,other notable participants are experts on decentralization,urbanization and Climate change.