Kenya Welcomes Mozambican Delegation for Week-Long Benchmarking Tour on Devolution Excellence

Kenya has rolled out the red carpet for a high-level delegation from the Government of Mozambique who are in the Kenya on a benchmarking mission to learn about decentralization and devolution. The delegation, hosted by the State Department for Devolution, reflects Mozambique’s growing interest in adopting and adapting Kenya’s widely acclaimed devolved system of governance as part of their own decentralization reforms.
The State Department for Devolution’s outgoing Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika welcomed the delegation and reassured them that their visit to Kenya as a leader in devolution will be successful as Kenya is keen to share the fruits of its decade-plus experience with Mozambique.
“The State Department for Devolution, together with various arms of government and county representatives, has curated a comprehensive itinerary to ensure meaningful knowledge exchange. This exchange will strengthen Mozambique’s local governance systems by learning from Kenya’s devolution successes and challenges to ensure the adoption of best practices tailored to your national context,” said PS Mbaika.
The leader of the Mozambican delegation Albino Forquilha accompanied by Mozambican Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, Eduardo Zaqueu, Ambassador (Rtd) Hipollito Patricio and Candida Moiane, the National Director of Administration expressed optimism in the visit acknowledging Kenya’s journey in devolution as one marked by innovation, resilience and citizen participation saying the lessons learnt will strengthen the spirit of African unity and progress.
Throughout the week, the Mozambican delegation will delve into a wide range of thematic areas that define Kenya’s devolved system of governance. Their learning journey will begin with a deep dive into the structure and historical development of Kenya’s state organization and decentralization framework, examining the transition from a centralized to a devolved system of governance. 
The week’s program underscores Kenya’s openness and commitment to regional learning, offering Mozambique a rich repository of practical knowledge and inspiration for its own decentralization efforts.
Through this visit, both nations are optimistic that this collaboration will sow the seeds for a lasting partnership in governance development, where ideas and practices are exchanged not just across borders, but across shared values of democracy, inclusivity and service to the people.