By Mildred Adhiambo
A new chapter has begun in Siaya County’s Tourism, Culture, Sports and Arts sector following a smooth leadership transition. Outgoing County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Mrs. Angeline Oduor officially handed over office to incoming CECM Dr. Nicholas Kut Ochogo.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Dr. Kut pledged to accelerate service delivery and advance the county’s development agenda through effective planning and implementation of programmes. He emphasized that the department plays a strategic role in marketing Siaya County and showcasing its rich tourism, cultural, and sporting potential.
Dr. Kut said his leadership would focus on implementing robust strategic plans aligned with the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). He added that departmental priorities would be adequately reflected in the budgetary provisions for the 2026/2027 financial year. He described tourism as one of the county’s most promising sectors for economic growth and job creation.
The incoming CECM revealed plans to aggressively promote tourist attraction sites, museums, and cultural heritage assets to draw more visitors and investors, while creating sustainable employment opportunities for local residents. He also underscored the importance of sports development, reaffirming the county’s commitment to nurturing young talent through targeted sporting programmes and sports academies.
Dr. Kut noted that existing facilities such as stadiums have already proven their capacity to host major competitions, positioning Siaya as a preferred venue for local and inter-county sporting events, including youth and football tournaments.
Outgoing CECM Mrs. Angeline Oduor reflected on her tenure, citing budgetary constraints as one of the major challenges the department faced. She observed that despite earlier perceptions that tourism was not a priority sector, sustained efforts by the department had significantly raised its profile and demonstrated its contribution to the county’s economic development.
She urged the departmental staff to embrace the leadership transition, foster teamwork, and uphold professionalism. She encouraged officers to adapt to different management styles, noting that leadership changes are a normal part of public service.
Congratulating her successor, Mrs. Oduor expressed confidence in the team he was inheriting. “You have gotten a very good team. The activities undertaken by this department require a lot of teamwork, cooperation, and commitment from everyone involved,” she said.
She further encouraged staff to support the incoming leadership and maintain the collaborative spirit that has enabled the department to deliver on its mandate. “Transitions are bound to happen and we should embrace them,” she added.
The ceremony culminated in the signing and official handover of documents from the outgoing to the incoming CECM, witnessed by senior departmental officers, directors, and administrators.
In her vote of thanks, Deputy Director Dr. Ethelberta Mutagaywa commended Mrs. Oduor for her dedication and outstanding contribution to the department’s growth. She thanked the outgoing CECM for her service and warmly welcomed the new leadership. She expressed confidence that the department would continue building on past achievements and reaffirmed staff commitment to supporting the new administration in elevating the department’s profile and performance.
The leadership transition is expected to inject fresh momentum into Siaya’s tourism, culture, sports, and arts sector as the county pursues its broader development goals.
Present during the ceremony were Chief Officer Mr. Wilfred Nyagudi, Dr. Sanmac Okoth (Director of Sports), Mr. John Ang'awa (Deputy Director of Sports), among other senior officers.