Some 170 sessions have been registered for this round.

This will be the first time the summit is held in an intermediary city.

The theme of the summit is “The role of intermediary cities in Africa in the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and of the African Union's Agenda 2063.”

Organized every three years over a five-day period, alternately in the different regions of Africa, the Africities Summit is Africa’s largest democratic gathering. 

This flagship event of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) is held in partnership with the government of Kenya, the Council of Governors of Kenya, and the county of Kisumu. 

“I am delighted to officially announce that the city of Kisumu will host the largest Africities summit ever held in Kenya,” said Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Senegalese President Macky Sall accepted the invitation to participate in the summit in his capacity as current president of the African Union (AU).

Distinguished personalities are expected to attend the gathering in Kisumu, including African ministers, mayors, leaders, and elected representatives of local authorities, civil society organisations, representatives of the African Diaspora, economic experts, researchers, academics, financial institutions, as well as development partners.

More than 3,000 participants have already registered to take part in the summit, its thematic sessions, sessions on local policies and strategies, and the political segment of the summit.

It is planned to organise a conversation between the former heads of state, honorary members of UCLG Africa, and the young elected representatives of local governments of Africa, concerning their involvement in the African renaissance. 

The conversation is scheduled for 20 May.