(East Africa Local Governments Association - EACLGA Consultative Meeting
The State Department for Devolution today held a consultative meeting with key stakeholders in the devolution sector to discuss the development of the East African Counties and Local Governments (East Africa Local Governments Association - EACLGA) Corporate Strategy for 2026–2029. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Maurice Ogolla, Head of the Policy Division, on behalf of the Principal Secretary, Michael Loikenu Lenasalon. The EALCLGA delegation was led by the Secretary General, Gertrude Rose Gamwera.
East Africa Local Governments Association is the umbrella body for local government associations across the East African region. The formulation of a new corporate strategy is informed by the evolving regional integration agenda and the upcoming conclusion of the current strategic plan. The proposed strategy is designed to strengthen local governments’ role in cross-border cooperation, enhance climate resilience, promote economic integration, and reinforce governance, advocacy, and capacity-building efforts across the region.
In his remarks, Principal Secretary Lenasalon emphasized that the strategy is both timely and strategic, noting that it will provide a clear framework to guide the operations of EACLGA and the East African Local Government Forum (EALGF) over the next four years. He underscored that the consultative process reflects a shared commitment by EAC Partner States to empower local governments as key drivers of regional integration, sustainable development, and effective governance.
The Principal Secretary further called on stakeholders to share best practices in devolution, support regional capacity-building initiatives, advocate for a stronger voice for local governments within EAC structures and work collaboratively to deliver tangible outcomes. These include empowered local authorities, resilient communities, integrated economies and improved livelihoods across East Africa.
The proposed thematic focus areas under the new corporate strategy include Governance and Institutional Strengthening, Digital Transformation, Financial Sustainability, Cross-Border Integration, Policy Harmonization, Inclusivity, Capacity Building and Climate Resilience.
Going forward, broader stakeholder engagements will be undertaken to ensure inclusive participation and to identify priorities that reflect the diverse devolution experiences of Member States, with the overarching goal of strengthening governance and bringing services closer to the people.