Speaker Amason Kingi has hailed the 5th Legislative Summit as a perfect platform that if properly handled will help solve many challenges that are undermining the implementation of devolution.

The Speaker further reminded the Joint Steering Committee that is organizing the Summit that the devolution family has become bigger and that anyone with an input for the success of the Summit should be involved in both planning and participation.

“Expand the family so that during the Summit we can also hear all the others with something to offer. This is a platform that offers the devolution family to engage in discussion in areas beyond devolution,” the Speaker told the Steering Committee.

The Speaker made the remarks when he met members of the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) whom paid him a courtesy call at his office in parliament Buildings.

The delegation was led by CAF chairman Philemon Kiplagat Sebulei who is the Speaker of Elgeyo Marakwet County Assembly.

The Summit returns after nearly three years break. The last Summit was held in 2019 in Kisumu County but subsequent ones were abandoned owing to the outbreak of Covid pandemic in 2020.

The next Summit will be held in Nakuru County from May 15 to 17.

Previously the Summit was a project of the Senate and County Assemblies, but this year it has been expanded to include the National Assembly and the East African legislative Assembly, the legislative arm of the East African Community.

Speaker Kingi hailed the move noting that laws passed anywhere in Kenya affect the people at the lowest levels of governance arguing that the move further helps to harmonise laws enacted.

Speaker Sebulei said the Senate and CAF need to develop a structured engagement that will preempt any challenges facing the devolution.

“We must talk as partners regardless of the challenges we face,” he said adding that the CAF is looking forward to the Summit after the long break.

“Let’s put our heads together, share the synergies so that we can strengthen legislation on devolution,” he added.