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Here is what you need to know in order to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

1. DP Gachagua to address devolution conference

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is set to preside over the closing ceremony of the 10th Devolution Conference in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.

The country’s second in command is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech today as Kenya marks 10 years of devolution.

He is expected to comment on the prospects, challenges and future of devolution in the country.

Widely regarded as an abrasive politician, who shoots from the hip, the DP is also expected to react to the politics of the day including ongoing national dialogue between the Kenya Kwanza government and the opposition’s Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition.

The three-day conference was opened on Wednesday by President William Ruto who warned against runaway corruption in the 47 devolved units.

While lauding the strides the country has made in the last ten years of devolution, the Head of State regretted that some county bosses had turned the devolved units into looting hotbeds.

“The people of Kenya deserve better, and they must be rid of this reckless betrayal. We must liberate devolution from corruption,” President Ruto said.

Opposition supremo Raila Odinga, who addressed the conference yesterday, also called for good governance as he decried duplication of roles at the national and county governments a decade after the transition to devolution.

2. Hearing of Sonko’s graft case

The hearing of a case in which former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and 16 others are charged with conflict of interest continues today.

The suspects are accused of conspiring to embezzle public funds in the sum of Ksh24.1 million from the Nairobi County Government.

3. Political class, lobby groups’ reactions to Raila’s attack on US ambassador

Yesterday, opposition leader Raila Odinga told off US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman for allegedly meddling in the political affairs of the country.

This is after the ambassador endorsed Ruto’s election, giving last year’s election a clean bill of health.

Speaking at the devolution conference in Eldoret, Raila termed the envoy “rogue” and threatened to pursue her recall if she does not “shut up”.

“Kenya is not a colony of the US. Keep your mouth shut, otherwise, we shall go for a recall. She should leave Kenyans alone,” Raila, who alleges electoral fraud in the August 2022 poll, angrily said.

Raila’s comments attracted criticism from Kenya Kwanza governors who attended the function.

Led by Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, the Kenya Kwanza leaders said Raila’s attacks against the ambassador were inappropriate.

“I’m sure Raila would not have used the words he used this afternoon. It is actually quite unfortunate to hear a man at such a level talk about an ambassador and tell her to shut up. Perhaps it is time for me to tell Raila to shut up.

“If he had really heard what she presented, he would have seen that she is the best ambassador not for the US to Kenya but like a Kenyan ambassador. She represents and talks about Kenya in a more positive and patriotic way than most Kenyans that I know,” Kihika said.

More leaders are expected to react to Raila’s comments today.