Uhuru to open Africities summit as presidents jet in

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially open the ninth Africities conference in Kisumu on Tuesday.

The conference is expected to attract 10,000 delegates. Former prime minister Raila Odinga is expected to attend alongside Uhuru. 

Dignitaries among them various heads of states started arriving for the event as early as Sunday.

Some of the high profile leaders who have arrived include President Omar Hussein Omar of Djibouti and former president of the Republic of Seychelles Danny Faure.

Others are delegations of governors from Egypt including; Dr Manal Awad of Damietta, Abdelhamid Elhaggan of Al Qalyoubia and Ambassador Mohamed Higazy.

On Monday, preparations at the Mamboleo Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium had been finalised.

Devolution PS Julius Korir said the preparation was at 99.9 per cent, all the meeting rooms, exhibition structures were up and the delegation were being registered.

"This morning alone we received three Boeing 737 Kenya Airways planes full of delegates and we are ready for everything," he said.

Security has also been beefed up at the venue and in the entire county. 

Nyanza regional commissioner Magu Mutindika said the government has mapped the areas to be frequented by the delegates and has assigned police officers accordingly. 

“I want to assure the delegates that their security is guaranteed. They will enjoy 24-hours security for the entire five days,” Mutindika said.

The United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, general Jean Pierre said the summit will hold 172 sessions.

Pierre said Kisumu will be the first secondary city to host the summit after the last one was held in Rabat in Morocco.

He said a number of mayors’ governors and leaders of urban regions will present papers.

The general said presidents will also have a round table engagement during the event.

He said they have already registered more than 200 exhibitors and businessmen from Africa and beyond who will showcase their products during the conference.

The summit’s theme this year is, “The role of intermediary cities in Africa in the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa said this will be a great opportunity for the country to showcase devolution, decentralisation in Africa and also urban planning and development.

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o said they are ready to host one of the best Africities ever. “Our hospitality is equal to none. We are excited to be the first intermediary city in Africa to hold the summit.” 

He said Kisumu will never be the same again after hosting the Africities.

Already hotels in Kisumu county and its environs are reaping big as most of them are fully booked, while others are near full occupancy.

Robinson Anyal, Hoteliers chairman said they are giving priority to hotels, which were accredited by the Tourism Regulatory Authority.

Anyal said the summit has created a huge business opportunity for hotels, which were hard hit by the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said those in the transport sector are also poised to benefit hugely especially tours and safaris and taxi operators. Taxi operators are going to benefit from pickups from airports to hotels and local tourism.

Anyal said the Lake Victoria Tourism Association has designed packages that allow day tours for the guests attending the summit.

“The hotels have designed packages for entertaining especially at night,” he said.

The chairman lauded the summit saying such events make recovery for hotels possible especially from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We need more of the events to fasten recovery. Most hotels were forced to send workers home, which negatively affected the industry,” he said.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)