Kisumu is safe, Nyong’o says as an international conference begins

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has assured residents and visitors alike that the Lakeside County is safe, as delegates gather for the 4th Sub-Sovereign Network (AFSNET) Conference.

The three-day conference began today, themed “Leveraging the AfCFTA for Sustainable Trade and Investment: A Development Pathway for African Sub-Sovereigns.”

AfCFTA stands for the African Continental Free Trade Area. Addressing the press on Monday morning, governor Nyong’o said security for everyone attending the conference at a Kisumu hotel is guaranteed.

“I also welcome all the delegates from across the world, development partners, cabinet secretaries, colleague governors, and exhibitors to this grand conference. We assure all the delegates that Kisumu is safe and take extra time to visit some of the beautiful tourist sites in this city,” he stated.

The conference is being organized by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the County government of Kisumu and the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA).

One of the key objectives of the conference, Nyong’o said, is to foster greater collaboration promoting trade, development, and investment initiatives among African sub- sovereigns, aligned with the goals of the AfCFTA.

“The other objective is to address the financing deficit faced by African sub-sovereign governments. This is why we thank Afreximbank for taking the initiative to establish AfSNET, with the primary goal of bridging the financing gap and ensuring that development takes root at the regional and local levels," he added.

“The inaugural AfSNET conference, held in Durban, South Africa, on the margins of the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) in 2021, attracted more than 80 delegates while the second, organized in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum in Abuja in September 2022, drew more than 150 delegates,” stated the county boss.

The third conference, co-hosted with UCLG Africa in November 2023 on the sidelines of IATF2023 in Cairo, had more than 250 participants and resulted in deals valued at more than USD$1.5 billion being signed.

Keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, have all been lined up, providing a platform for African sub-sovereigns to collaborate, share best practices, and attract investment to their regions.

President William Ruto is among high profile guests expected to attend the conference. He will officially open the conference on Tuesday.