Safaricom has announced a Sh5 million platinum sponsorship for the 2025 Devolution Conference, which is currently underway in Homabay County.

The telecommunications company described the move as part of its wider mission to be the nation’s preferred digital partner, with a focus on advancing digital societies, expanding inclusion, and supporting prosperity in all regions of Kenya.

Explaining the significance of the event, Safaricom chief executive Dr Peter Ndegwa remarked, “The 2025 Devolution Conference offers a timely opportunity to reflect on how technology can drive inclusion, improve governance, and transform service delivery across all 47 counties.”

The three-day gathering, themed “For the People, For Prosperity: Devolution as a Catalyst for Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice”, is marking 12 years since the inception of Kenya’s devolved system of governance.

Leaders, policymakers, and citizens are meeting to evaluate the progress made and to explore fresh strategies for achieving equitable growth across the country.

As part of its participation, Safaricom is exhibiting a range of technology-driven county solutions.

These include IoT for County Efficiency, designed to digitise public utilities and manage fleets more effectively; Digital Public Infrastructure for Payments, which provides secure and transparent channels for bursaries, school fees, and other county-level transactions; and financial services such as Ziidi MMF and Tunza Mapato, the latter aimed at helping women safeguard and grow their earnings.

Sharing his vision for collaboration between different sectors, Ndegwa added, “Our ambition is to support county governments in creating smart, inclusive, and prosperous communities. We believe that by working together as public and private sectors, we can unlock the full potential of devolution.”

The conference, which draws participants from all 47 counties, is expected to close with a renewed commitment to leveraging both technology and policy to strengthen the delivery of public services and promote social justice.