Siaya County readies to reap big from first investment summit

Siaya County is set to host its inaugural Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference, marking a historic milestone in the County’s economic transformation agenda.

While making the announcement, Governor James Orengo said the conference is the county's flagship platform to position Siaya as a key destination for investment and enterprise.

"This will translate ambition into projects that create jobs, expand markets and improve lives," said Orengo.

The event, which will take place in Siaya Municipality, with additional activities in Bondo Municipality, will also be attended by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

He added that the conference will go beyond the traditional trade exhibitions, focusing instead on bankable projects, signed contracts and transformative investments that will create lasting impact for the people of Siaya.

“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," he said.

Themed “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 four-day event will feature keynote addresses, plenaries, sectoral breakouts, exhibitions, B2B deal rooms, investment roundtables, site visits to priority projects and signature public–private partnership (PPP) sessions.

Unlike other conferences, SITICO will not only showcase opportunities but also present tangible investment deals.

“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,” Orengo emphasized in a media briefing.

Siaya County contributes one per cent of Kenya’s GDP, valued at Sh15.4 billion, with agriculture making up 60 per cent of this output.

Through strategic investments, the County targets an increase to Sh20 billion in the near term.

Currently, only 8 per cent of Siaya’s 7,150 hectares of irrigable land has been utilized. The County aims to increase this by 30 per cent within five years through water infrastructure development. Some priority value chains include rice and cotton, supported by new investments in agro-processing and manufacturing.

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,” noted Orengo.