Siaya town came alive on Monday morning as Governor James Orengo and Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga led county leaders in welcoming Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for the highly anticipated Boda Boda Empowerment Forum, held at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) grounds. The event marked a major milestone in the ongoing national push to uplift Kenya’s informal sector through structured economic empowerment initiatives.
The forum, which also drew the participation of Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, media magnate S.K. Macharia, and several senior government officials, underscored the renewed partnership between the national and county governments in driving inclusive growth.
Speaking during the event, Governor Orengo lauded the initiative as a practical demonstration of the government’s commitment to creating opportunities for ordinary Kenyans beyond formal employment.
“The youth form the largest proportion of our population, and it is only right that we design sustainable programmes that guarantee them dignified livelihoods,” Orengo said. “Through empowerment forums like this, we are not just distributing resources — we are restoring hope, dignity, and purpose.”
The Boda Boda Empowerment Programme is part of a broader national youth and informal sector economic inclusion policy, spearheaded by the Deputy President’s office. The initiative works through the 47 county government frameworks, ensuring local adaptation and efficient implementation.
Deputy President Kindiki said the empowerment drive is central to the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to invest in sectors that directly touch the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
“The informal economy is the heartbeat of this nation,” Kindiki said. “By equipping our boda boda riders, mama mbogas, artisans, and other small-scale entrepreneurs, we are building the foundation of a resilient and self-sustaining economy.”
He revealed that over 150 empowerment forums have already been conducted across the country, targeting different segments of the population, including women groups, youth collectives, and persons with disabilities.
Governor Orengo noted that Siaya County’s participation in such programmes reflects his administration’s Nayalore Youth Empowerment Plan, a strategic framework aimed at mobilizing resources for job creation through collaborations with development partners, national government initiatives, and community-based organizations.
“The Nayalore Plan is not just a county project — it is a philosophy of partnership and productivity,” Orengo emphasized. “We are working closely with national programmes such as Nyota, National Government Empowerment Funds, and other economic inclusion platforms to open up more opportunities for our people.”
Senator Dr. Oburu Odinga praised the national government’s outreach to counties like Siaya, terming it “a refreshing gesture of unity of purpose” that transcends political divides.
“Development has no political color,” he remarked. “What matters is service to the people. When the national and county governments pull in the same direction, progress becomes inevitable.”
The Siaya empowerment event saw hundreds of boda boda riders and small traders receive toolkits, safety gear, and financial literacy training — all aimed at strengthening their enterprises and enhancing safety standards.
As the session closed, S.K. Macharia commended the youth for their entrepreneurial spirit, urging them to maintain discipline and professionalism in their operations.
“The boda boda sector can be a force for transformation if well organized and supported,” Macharia said.
With the success of the Siaya forum, the empowerment caravan is expected to move to neighboring counties, cementing the government’s pledge to make the informal economy the true engine of Kenya’s growth story.
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