Siaya County is about to take the national spotlight, once again. From October 14–17, 2025, Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo will host the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference (SITICO) at the Siaya National Polytechnic—a summit billed as more than a ceremonial showcase. It is being framed as a strategic launchpad for green economy ventures, IT innovation, and blue economy investments that could redefine Siaya’s future.
A Governor Thinking Beyond Borders
At a time when Kenya is repositioning itself to attract global trade in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and digital economies, Orengo is taking the gamble of presenting Siaya not just as another county, but as a serious international investment destination.
“This conference is about partnerships that last, jobs that matter, and a future that works for our people,” Orengo told stakeholders last week.
Unlike many county forums that end up as talk shops, SITICO has been designed with deal rooms, closed-door negotiations, and structured investor sessions. The goal: to walk away with signed agreements, not just speeches.
The Innovation Pitch: Green Economy & IT
Two themes stand out in SITICO’s agenda:
Green Economy – From solar farms across the sun-drenched plains of Rarieda through marshy wetlands of Alego-Usonga to biogas projects in rural homesteads, Siaya is presenting itself as a county ready to host sustainable energy projects that cut costs while powering growth. The county is also tying green energy directly to agriculture, pitching irrigation powered by renewables and sustainable fisheries as bankable ventures.
Information Technology – Siaya is positioning itself as an unexpected digital hub. With former ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo championing county-level tech centers, SITICO is expected to unveil proposals for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) hubs, e-learning platforms, and youth-driven IT incubation labs. If executed, this could place Siaya in the same conversation as Nairobi’s Konza City—albeit on a smaller, more targeted scale.
The Power Map: Who’s in Play
To get there, Orengo is leaning on a mix of allies and financiers:
The County Executives for Trade and Investment as well as Governance and Agriculture, are shaping the investment pipeline and courting regional banks.
Orengo’s team of advisors with strong NGO roots, are building the bridge to European development funds and UN agencies.
A team of experts is pushing IT and green projects, symbolizing the rare Kenya Kwanza–Azimio overlapping interests in Siaya development.
Equity Bank’s James Mwangi is circling the smart farming agenda with plans for farmer financing schemes.
Meanwhile, local tycoons including Nicholas Rajula, as well as Siaya’s gold and fishing cartels see SITICO as their moment to formalize and expand their dominance. Orengo will need to keep these players in check while maintaining investor confidence.
Cutting Orengo Some Slack
Critics argue that SITICO risks being hijacked by political interests or cartels. But to his credit, Orengo has raised the bar by anchoring the conference around future-facing themes—green energy, IT, and the blue economy—rather than the tired county pitches of roads and small markets.
In a political season when many governors are tightening belts, Orengo is betting on bold, outward-looking innovation. If he succeeds, SITICO could set a template for counties across Kenya on how to attract global partnerships. If he fails, it risks being remembered as another costly, elite networking jamboree.
The Countdown to October
Registration is live at https://sitico.siaya.go.ke, and interest is building. Investors, financiers, and development partners are already lining up. For Orengo, October will be the ultimate test of whether a county on the shores of Lake Victoria can tap into global trade winds blowing toward Africa’s green and digital economies.
As Kenya itself gears up to position counties as engines of international trade, Orengo’s gamble could very well place Siaya at the cutting edge of the next economic wave.
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