President William Ruto is expected to grace the first ever Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference where Siaya County will seek partnerships in key bankable projects.
Siaya County Governor James Orengo said the conference slated for next month will also target to achieve signed contracts, and transformative investments that will create lasting impact for the county residents.
“Our approach is focused on enhancing infrastructure, promoting public-private partnerships, and creating an investor-friendly environment. By highlighting our rich cultural heritage and leveraging our valuable natural resources, we are positioning Siaya County as a regional hub for economic transformation,” said Orengo.
Under the theme, “Positioning Siaya as an Investment Destination: Transformative Growth through Trade and Investment,” SITICO 2025 will align with the Siaya County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP 2023–2027), Kenya Vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the African Union Agenda 2063.
The conference will also feature keynote addresses by among others, Raila Odinga, plenaries, sectoral breakouts, exhibitions, B2B deal rooms, investment roundtables, site visits to priority projects, and signature public–private partnership (PPP) sessions.
“This is going to be a conference like no other and a first for Siaya. It will not be about just signing MOUs – it will be a display of the contracts we will have signed with various investors, with some agreements finalized during the days of the conference,” added Orengo.
Siaya County targets to leverage the conference to unlock its national economic contribution from the current Ksh 15.4 billion to Ksh 20 billion in the near term.
Among arears of focus is agriculture which accounts for 60pc of the county’s economy. Through partnerships, Siaya County targets to increase land under irrigation from the current 8pc to 30pc out of the total 7,150 hectares within the next five years.
Governor Orengo noted that these investments are not only aimed at transforming agriculture but also at generating new skills, attracting investors, and ensuring sustainable production systems that will create jobs for youth and women.
Siaya also plays a critical role in Kenya’s blue economy, with significant opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture.
Currently, the County has 65 hectares dedicated to fish farming across 1,800 ponds, with untapped potential in cage fish farming on Lake Victoria, which the governor noted offers immense transformation potential.
“Our goal is simple and measurable. To catalyze domestic and foreign direct investment, accelerate enterprise growth, and secure bankable commitments that move from memorandum to machinery, from intent to impact,” he noted.
