Council of Governors Chair Ahmed Abdullahi has emphasised the vital role of young people in shaping Kenya’s governance, noting that this year’s devolution conference will focus on inclusivity to ensure their voices are heard and represented.

Speaking during a live local television interview on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Abdullahi said the choice of theme was informed by growing calls across the country for broader participation in leadership, particularly from the youth.

“This year’s devolution conference is all about inclusivity, this is as a result of everything we have seen in Kenya. There is a lot more talk on demand for inclusion. We have seen what happened with our youths for the last two years, where they are asking that they don’t want to be bystanders in running the affairs of this country,” he stated.

According to Abdullahi, devolution itself is a powerful driver for equity, fairness, and citizen involvement in governance. He noted that the theme of inclusivity will be a guiding principle throughout the conference, shaping discussions and resolutions.

“Devolution is a catalyst for inclusion, equity, parity and social justice. This theme will be embedded in all discussions,” he said.

Abdullahi revealed that the upcoming conference will feature a packed programme designed to engage stakeholders from all levels of governance and sectors of society to address growing demands, especially from the youth, which sparked a series of protests in the country for the last two years.

“There are at least 45 breakout sessions, side events outside the main plenary that will discuss matters of devolution,” he explained, adding that the diversity of sessions is meant to allow for targeted conversations on specific devolved functions.

Collective responsibility

The CoG Chair emphasised that devolution should not be viewed as the exclusive preserve of county governments, but rather as a collective responsibility that brings together all stakeholders, including citizens, national government agencies, and development partners, to ensure its success.

“Devolution is not only for county governments, it is for all stakeholders. We must think devolution in everything we do and whichever institutions we are in,” Abdullahi said.

He noted that the breakout sessions will focus on evaluating the progress of devolution, examining coordination between different levels of government, and identifying what has worked well and where improvements can be made.

“These breakout sessions will talk about all those functions that are devolved, the coordination of the same, what has worked and what could work better,” Abdullahi remarked.

The devolution conference is expected to bring together leaders, policy experts, civil society, and members of the public to deliberate on ways to strengthen county governance and promote inclusivity across all levels of decision-making.

By centring youth voices and broadening participation, Abdullahi said the forum aims to ensure that Kenya’s devolution journey continues to reflect the aspirations of its people.