Photos Emerge Of Raila Odinga, George Natembeya Enjoying Boiled Maize In Trans Nzoia At Devolution Conference

• Raila Odinga, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Party leader, made a keynote address at the Devolution Conference on Thursday, August 17
• Raila was captured enjoying a cob of boiled maize at the exhibition stand of Trans Nzoia county as he chatted with Governor George Natembeya
• The Opposition leader referred to by some as the father of devolution urged the governors to come up with their tailor-made plans for the people and stop aping the national government

All eyes in the country are on the eight Devolution Conference taking place in Eldoret Sports Club Uasin Gishu county.

Raila Odinga at Devolution Conference

The event that began on Tuesday, August 15, has seen high profile guest speakers like US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga address governors, political leaders and stakeholders from across the 47 devolved units and even across the border.

Whereas Ruto and Whitman addressed the conference on Wednesday, August 16, Raila delivered his keynote speech to the county chiefs and other stakeholders on Thursday, August 17, with his remarks exciting and rubbing the wrong way leaders from across the political divide.

Raila Odinga takes on Meg Whitman, Koti Moja

Raila boldly tore into Whitman's and Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii aka Koti Moja's remarks castigating maandamano, but lauded county leadership for embracing devolution, a key component of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 that he championed for.

As he was taken around county stands with Council of Governors Chair Anne Waiguru, Raila received a rousing reception at the Trans Nzoia county's exhibition stall, where he enjoyed a cob of maize along with Governor George Natembeya.

In a video shared by Natembeya on TikTok, participants were elated as Raila picked a cob of maize and began chewing on the grain.

The excited participants urged Natembeya and other county staff to add Baba, as Raila is popularly known, another cob of boiled maize.

George Natembeya at Devolution Conference

Natembeya also showed his side of servant leadership by serving boiled maize cobs to participants who visited the stand.

Boiled maize, casually referred to as mchemsho is a common delicacy in Trans Nzoia and other corn growing regions.

Trans Nzoia is a key producer of maize in the country and along with several other North Rift region counties, is referred to as the bread basket or grain basket of Kenya.

The county produces over five million bags of maize from approximately 100,000 hectares of land annually as reported by The Standard.