Kephers Otieno

The Ninth Edition of Africities Summit, earlier set for Kisumu in April next year, has been pushed forward by a month.

That is the third straight time the global event is being pushed to new dates by organisers due to Covid-19 concerns.

Earlier, the conference was to be held between April 26 and 30, 2022 at the newly-built Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium, Kisumu.

Previously it was tipped for November 2020, but travel and ban on large gatherings due to Covid-19 spread affected the preparations.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of Africities held on February 17 then decided the summit date from November 2021 to April.

 It will now be held from May 17 to 21st May 2022.

“Following consultations with the Government of Kenya, the Council of Governors of Kenya and the lead partners in the organisation of the Summit, UN Habitat, and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa),  the Executive Committee of the ninth edition of the Africities Summit to be held in Kisumu, Kenya, informs the public and interested institutions, organisations, associations, and stakeholders, that the ninth edition of the Africities  Summit initially scheduled on 26 to 30 April 2022 has been moved to May 17 to 22,” read part of the statement.

Press Director Alloyce Ager sent the statement on behalf of Devolution CAbinet Secretary Eugene  Wamalwa and the host Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o

“As a reminder, the theme of the 9th Africities Summit is: “The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and the African Union Agenda 2063,’’ said Ager

Sustainable urbanisation

These two Agendas call for the urgent need to develop resilient and sustainable urbanisation in Africa, cognizant of the fact that by 2050 the bulk of the African population will be living in cities, and that the majority of city dwellers will settle in intermediary cities.

The improvement of the living conditions of the African people and the economic and social structural transformation of the African continent, is therefore closely linked to the way the realisation of these agendas will be addressed in African intermediary cities.

Such cities are for sure the places where Africa will be inventing her own approach and trajectory to sustainable human development based on her realities but also taking stock of the knowledge and experiences accrued across the world.

“As much as possible, the development models to be implemented in Africa should be more energy efficient, low carbon, more inclusive, and more resilient,’’ the statement read

The Africities Summit, will also be part of this endeavor in a place where Africa will be defining her new development trajectory based on African intermediary cities.