JOINT PRESS STATEMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF AFRICITIES ON THE PLANNING PROCESS OF THE 9TH EDITION OF AFRICITIES KISUMU 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in a profound way with countries racing to find ways of stemming its spread through various strategies such as controlling travels, avoiding large gatherings and most recently by the introduction of medical intervention such as vaccination.

In the process of stemming the spread of the virus, almost all the nations of the world focused their attention and resources towards implementing such control strategies.

Africities planning process was not spared either.

In racing to cover the lost time, the Africities stakeholders; the Government of Kenya, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), Council of Governors of Kenya and the County Government of Kisumu have made very good progress towards the successful realization of this premier Pan African and international event.

The leadership of the four partners are also quite impressed with the gains made around the world in managing the effects of the virus and its spread and are convinced of an impressive attendance to the Conference.

Despite the good progress experienced in the opening of economies and Summit planning process, a lot still needs to be done.

In view of the foregoing, the Executive Committee of Africities convened virtually on the 17th of February 2021, having considered the outstanding preparatory work and cognizant that some parts of the world are still under various levels of restrictions, has mutually taken the decision to move the date of the Summit from to 26th – 30th April 2022 in Kisumu City.

The Executive Committee has also deliberated on the proposed conference theme and pronounces itself that the Summit theme shall be “The Role of Intermediary Cities of Africa in the Implementation of Agenda 2030 of the United Nations and African Union Agenda 2063”.
The two agenda focus on the urgent need to develop resilient and sustainable urbanization in Africa that are cognizant of livable urban space where over 50% of the African population will be found by 2050. Intermediary cities like Kisumu are likely to be the fastest growth points for this urbanization. Hence the need to focus on INTERMEDIARY cities at the Summit.

As part of the planning process to the new date, the Executive Committee working with various Africities Institutional Structures, will hold the official launch of the Africities website and the Early Bird Registration in Kisumu in the first week of April of 2021.

Welcome to the 9th Edition of Africities Kisumu April 2022.

Given under our seal on this 17th day of February 2021

Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, EGH
Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
Republic of Kenya

H.E. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi
Secretary General, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa
(UCLG Africa)

H.E Martin Wambora
Chairman, Council of Governors
Republic of Kenya

H.E. Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, EGH
Governor, County Government of Kisumu.
Republic of Kenya