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Uasin Gishu county enjoyed booming business on the first day of the devolution conference that kicked off yesterday with more than 10,000 attending the five-day event.

Major hotels are expected to benefit from the conference as the many remained fully booked.
Arrangements have been made for the visitors who fail to get accommodation in Eldoret to be hosted in the neighbouring regions including Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi and Trans Nzoia counties.

Lake Bogoria Spa Resort in Baringo County Manager Lydia Tendewo said they are ready to accommodate the visitors.

“We have enough accommodation facilities and we are ready to host our visitors to experience the healing of Lake Bogoria hot water and hospitality,” Tendewo said.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii said his administration has set its eyes to use the devolution conference to market itself as an ideal investment hub.

“The conference is a rare opportunity that will bring top country leadership and many high-level local and international guests to our County. We must be prepared to welcome them as a County. The event will also prove Eldoret’s readiness to be elevated to a city,” said Bii.

According to Bii, the momentous event will also reflect on significant milestones that have been achieved since the establishment of devolution.

He said the devolution conference will also be an opportunity to unite the whole country noting that President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua and Azimio leader Raila Odinga will grace the event on different days.

The county government has given the thousands of delegates and visitors expected to attend the conference a special welcome by the hosts.

The Department of Culture has selected a number of cultural groups that have been mandated to sing and entertain visitors arriving at the Eldoret International Airport.

Uasin Gishu County Culture Director Mohammed Dakane said the dance and songs is a way of warmly welcoming the visitors and giving them an assurance that the county is ready to host them.

“We’re here at the airport receiving delegates and visitors welcoming them for the Devolution Conference. We are here to tell them Uasin Gishu is ready for the conference. We’ve prepared good entertainment groups and we’ve entertainment all groups. We’re happy for what we’re doing,” said Dakane.

President William Ruto will officially open the event tomorrow at the Eldoret Sports Club.
The theme of this year’s conference is: “10 years of devolution: The present and the future.”
The governors are set to focus on the last 10 years of devolution and explore locally and internationally recognised methods to help strengthen the systems and ensure transformed service delivery to its citizenry across the 47 counties.

The conference will also present an ideal opportunity for counties which come under the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) to showcase itself as potential investment hub in tourism, sports and agriculture among others.