In a statement to public and partner institutions, the UCLG Africa said that the Government of Kenya has requested the postponement of the Summit due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which is affecting the country, along with other nations of the world.

The theme of the Summit remains: "The role of Africa's intermediary cities in the implementation of the UN's Agenda 2030 and the African Union's Agenda 2063", the same source said.

Kisumu is the very first intermediate city to host the Africities Summit. The previous Africities 8 edition, held in Marrakech in November 2018 in Morocco, was attended by a record 8,300 participants from 79 countries, including 52 African countries, it recalled.

The Africities summit is the largest democratic gathering organized on the African continent, said the source, adding that it brings together every three years the ministers; mayors and leaders of local authorities; representatives of civil society, the private sector, academia and research; national, regional and international financial institutions; development partners; and other stakeholders.

The Africities summit offers a unique platform for dialogue on the role of local authorities in the development and unity of Africa, and on the place of decentralization in improving the governance of public affairs in Africa, it concluded.