Garissa gears up to host major 2026 devolution week as planning intensifies
By Mustafa Juma, July 1, 2026Preparations are gathering pace for the 2026 Devolution Sensitisation Week (DSW 2026), with the Council of Governors (CoG) and the Garissa County Government stepping up planning ahead of the national event scheduled for next month.
The Council of Governors’ DSW 2026 Planning Committee, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, held a consultative meeting with the Garissa County Government, led by Governor Nathif Jama, to assess progress on logistics, resource mobilisation and overall readiness for the weeklong programme.
The event is expected to run from July 20 to July 24, 2026, bringing together national and county government leaders, development partners, civil society, the private sector and members of the public.
In a statement shared via X on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the Council of Governors said the meeting focused on ensuring the host county is fully prepared to deliver a successful event.
“Preparations for the Devolution Sensitisation Week 2026 are gaining momentum. The Council of Governors’ DSW 2026 Planning Committee met with the Garissa County Government, led by H.E. Nathif Jama, to review planning progress, logistics, and resource mobilization ahead of the event,” the CoG stated.
The Council described Devolution Sensitisation Week as a key platform for engaging citizens and stakeholders on the progress and future of Kenya’s devolved system of government.
“#DSW2026 is a platform for public and stakeholder engagement on devolution, highlighting its gains, addressing emerging challenges, and promoting dialogue on the future of devolved governance.”
According to the Council, Garissa County reaffirmed its commitment to hosting a successful event as planning teams continue working jointly to coordinate the programme.
“The County Government reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a successful DSW 2026 as planning teams continue working together to ensure a well-coordinated and impactful event.”
Platform to review devolution gains
The annual Devolution Sensitisation Week has become one of the Council of Governors’ flagship public engagement forums since its introduction, providing an opportunity to showcase county achievements while discussing challenges facing devolved governance. Previous editions have featured exhibitions, policy dialogues, public forums and knowledge-sharing sessions involving counties, national government agencies and development partners.
This year’s event is expected to focus on the impact of devolution more than a decade after the introduction of county governments under the 2010 Constitution. Discussions are likely to centre on service delivery, fiscal decentralisation, intergovernmental relations, citizen participation and strategies for strengthening county institutions.
Garissa prepares to welcome delegates
Hosting DSW 2026 is expected to place Garissa at the centre of national conversations on devolution, with hundreds of delegates anticipated to attend the five-day event.
Beyond governance discussions, the forum is expected to provide an opportunity for Garissa County to showcase its investment opportunities, cultural heritage and development achievements to visitors from across the country.
Planning committees from the Council of Governors and the county government are continuing to fine-tune logistics, venue preparations and stakeholder participation to ensure the event proceeds smoothly.
The Council of Governors has maintained that Devolution Sensitisation Week remains an important avenue for strengthening public understanding of devolution, encouraging citizen participation and identifying practical solutions to the challenges facing county governments as Kenya continues to deepen devolved governance.