The 2024 SDGs national multi-stakeholders conference

The 7th Annual National Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Multi-Stakeholder Conference was officially opened today by Economic Planning Secretary Timothy Gakuu, on behalf of the Economic Planning Principal Secretary, James Muhati at a hotel in Mombasa.

The Conference themed ‘Solutions to Leapfrog SDGs Implementation in the Last Stretch to 2030,’ takes place from 9th to 12th December and aims to bring together key stakeholders from government, civil society, private sector, media, academia, development partners and youth to share knowledge and strategies for accelerating SDGs implementation.

Global progress on SDGs has been uneven, with only 17% of targets on track due to challenges like climate change, inequality and the impact of global shocks. Despite these setbacks, Kenya remains committed to the SDGs, with the introduction of 17 Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) and strong contributions from national and county governments.

In a speech read on his behalf by EPS Gakuu, PS Muhati called on all counties to take part in VLRs, ensuring a decentralized approach to monitoring SDGs progress. Kenya’s SDGs Roadmap, which outlines strategic actions to address key challenges, is central to accelerating progress, especially in the final years before the 2030 deadline.

“The journey to 2030 requires all hands on deck. We must act with urgency, commitment, and collaboration to ensure that we leave no one behind in our pursuit of sustainable development,” said PS Muhati.“As we approach the final stretch toward 2030, there is an urgent need to scale up efforts. The country’s new development agenda, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), aligns with the SDGs, ensuring inclusive growth and addressing pressing development challenges, ” PS Muhati added.

In conclusion, the conference calls for renewed commitment from all sectors to collaborate, innovate, and act swiftly to turn challenges into opportunities. With joint efforts, Kenya can ensure that the SDGs are not just a promise, but a reality for all citizens by 2030.

In attendance were: SDG Kenya Forum Executive Director, Ms. Florence Syevuo , Director IFCD, Mr. Festus Wangwe, UNRC ,Mr. Julius Chokerah, Parliamentary Caucus on SDGs Chair, Hon. Dr. Gideon Ochanda, Council of Governors Representative Ms. Eunice Fedha, MP Kitutu Masaba, Hon. Clive Gisaro, KEPSA Representative, Mr. Maurice Owaka, SDEP Directors, Benson Kiriga and David Kiboi among others .