President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to officially open the ninth Africities Conference in Kisumu on Tuesday, at the Mamboleo Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium.
The conference is expected to attract 10,000 delegates, with Former prime minister Raila Odinga expected to attend alongside Uhuru.
Dignitaries started arriving as early as Sunday, among them high profile leaders including President Omar Hussein Omar of Djibouti and former president of the Republic of Seychelles Danny Faure.
Others are delegations of governors from Egypt including; Dr Manal Awad of Damietta, Abdelhamid Elhaggan of Al Qalyoubia and Ambassador Mohamed Higazy
Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o said they are ready to host one of the best Africities ever adding the County’s hospitality is equal to none.
Nyong’o added despite Kisumu being the first intermediary city in Africa to hold the summit, the County will never be the same again after hosting the Africities.
Already hotels in Kisumu County and its environs are reaping big as most of them are fully booked, while others are near full occupancy.
Devolution PS Julius Korir said the preparation was at 99.9 per cent, all the meeting rooms, and exhibition structures were up and the delegation was being registered.
Security has also been beefed up at the venue and in the entire county with Nyanza regional commissioner Magu Mutindika saying the government has mapped the areas to be frequented by the delegates and has assigned police officers accordingly.
The United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, general Jean Pierre said the summit will hold 172 sessions.
Pierre said Kisumu will be the first secondary city to host the summit after the last one was held in Rabat in Morocco.
The summit’s theme this year is, “The role of intermediary cities in Africa in the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the African Union Agenda 2063.