KIPPRA hosted the 6th KIPPRA Annual Regional Conference from 21st to 23rd June 2023 at Pwani University in Kilifi County. The conference, which brought together state and non-state actors, was officially opened by H.E Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya and attended by CS, EAC,ASALs and Regional Development, Ms Rebecca Miano, Kilifi County Governor H.E Gideon Mung’aro, Garissa County Governor H.E Nathif Jama, Baringo Governor H.E Benjamin Cheboi and PS State Department for Economic Planning, Mr James Muhati and PS ASALs Idris Dokata.
The conference was themed “Accelerating Economic Growth and Development for ASALs in Kenya” and provided a forum for policymakers, implementers and other stakeholders to explore areas of economic potential in ASAL counties and provided a platform for state and non-state actors to discuss the investment opportunities in accelerating growth of economic activity in ASALs. Moreover, the conference provided youth with a platform to appreciate and explore employment and business opportunities available in ASALs.
Speaking at the conference, the Deputy President underscored the importance of economic development of ASALs to Kenya’s economic growth, noting that the future of Kenya is in arid and semi-arid lands and that the government is seeking partnership in investments to plug the food deficit to a surplus. He further noted that the dry lands are the panacea to Kenya’s food security.
The three-day conference attracted more than 800 delegates per day who participated in several main and paralegal spread across the three days. The youth event brought together 289 youth, representing mainly 29 arid and semi-arid lands’ (ASAL) counties in Kenya, and spreading across various categories of youth including university students, youth community development mobilizers, youth innovators and solution providers, youth in government and non-government organizations, youth with community-based groups and youth leading youth-based civil society organizations and associations.
More than 20 institutions got a chance to showcase their products and services in the booths provided by KIPPRA.
