The County Government of Siaya is set to release Sh31 million under a revived Cooperative Development Fund to empower small and micro-businesses across the region.
According to County Director of Trade Chris Owang’, the long-stalled fund has finally been factored into the 2025/2026 budget, with Sh21 million carried over from last financial year and an additional Sh10 million allocated this year.
“We have revived our empowerment program that had been delayed due to the formulation of policies and guidelines to run it,” Owang’ told the Performance Contract Steering Committee during a vetting session on Thursday.
The program is targeted at entrepreneurs at the bottom of the economy, including salon operators, barbers, carpenters, tailors, mama mboga, and other hustlers in need of affordable credit. Beneficiaries will access the funds through Saccos and cooperatives as soft loans with low interest rates, a move expected to transform thousands of businesses.
Owang’ also urged more women to take advantage of the resource, noting that financial empowerment is central to Siaya’s grassroots economic growth.
Beyond the fund, the Nyalore administration has committed to a broad agenda of supporting businesses by reviving stalled markets, constructing modern trading spaces, and installing high-mast floodlights to improve security and extend business hours.
He further revealed that the stalled County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIP) at Got Akara in Alego-Usonga will be revived this financial year, while road upgrades—including the Ugunja Ring Road, Ndori Ring Road, Sega, Usenge and Akala routes—are underway to ease trade and attract investment.
“Siaya is ready for business. We are creating a conducive environment for SMEs and investors to thrive,” Owang’ said.
SITICO 2025: Gateway to Siaya’s Transformation
The Cooperative Fund announcement comes just weeks before Siaya hosts the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference (SITICO), slated for October 15–17, 2025 at the Siaya National Polytechnic.
Governor James Orengo has confirmed that 20,000 delegates, including local, national, and international investors, are expected.
“Day one of SITICO will be fully dedicated to business-to-business engagements with keynote speakers and investors taking center stage,” Orengo said, adding that talks with banks and financiers are already underway to secure support for bankable projects.
Trade CECM Grace Agola revealed that the county has developed an investment handbook profiling 19 projects across agriculture, the blue economy, ICT, and energy.
Chief Officer of Trade Elizabeth Adongo called on residents to leverage social media to market SITICO, while LREB CEO Victor Nyagaya encouraged entrepreneurs to prepare quality proposals to tap into a Sh6 billion FAO-backed fund supporting poultry, dairy, African leafy vegetables, and beekeeping across 14 counties.
Governor Orengo emphasized that despite its untapped natural resources, Siaya remains underperforming economically—something SITICO and the new Cooperative Fund aim to reverse.
“Siaya’s moment is now. We are determined to position this county as an economic hub,” the governor affirmed.
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