A Handshake With The President

The County Government of Siaya, led by Governor James Orengo, participated in the Madaraka Day Thematic Conference focused on the Maritime and Blue Economy. The conference, has been held in preparation for the 62nd Madaraka Day celebration to hosted at Raila Odinga Stadium on Sunday.

The high-level summit, chaired by President William Ruto and Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, aimed to address economic challenges and promote gainful employment in the Lake Region. Discussions emphasized critical areas such as value chain development, infrastructure, mobility, and connectivity to bolster the region’s blue economy. President Ruto, who launched the region’s first beach project, pledged to enhance the blue economy for job creation and sustainability. He announced the successful organization of over 400 beaches across the county and outlined plans to establish cooperative societies to collect and market fish from the region. Additionally, he committed to implementing training programs to equip farmers with knowledge about the economic benefits of beach management.

President Ruto commended Governors James Orengo and Gladys Wanga for their tireless collaboration with the national government to ensure the success of these projects, which are projected to contribute Ksh. 30 to 40 billion to Kenya’s economy. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to establish fish fingerling farms, such as those at Kabonyo Kanyagwal in Kisumu County, and promised to boost aquaculture to increase fish stocks in the region. Infrastructure development for fish landing sites has already begun along the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria, including the Luanda K’Oteno site in Siaya County, commissioned by Governor Orengo and Principal Secretary for Blue Economy and Fisheries, Betsy Muthoni Njagi.

Noting that 70% of Lake Victoria lies within Homa Bay County, President Ruto emphasized the urgency of completing all fish landing sites within a year. The national government has already commissioned sites at Usenge Beach, Wich Lum Beach, and Asembo Bay Beach in Siaya County.

Gov. Orengo’s 9-Point Agenda for the blue economy focuses on establishing modern infrastructure to stimulate economic activity around the lake. This includes developing road networks to facilitate access to beaches and addressing security concerns for fisherfolk. The national government has also called for adherence to fishing standards to prevent the harvesting of immature fish. To tackle persistent security challenges at beaches, President Ruto announced the deployment of patrol boats, noting that the fisheries sector currently contributes only 0.04% to the economy. He stressed the need for greater efforts to address these challenges comprehensively.

Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, the ODM Leader and former Prime Minister, who also attended the event, praised President Ruto for prioritizing development in the region. He noted that the blue economy initiatives would significantly improve the livelihoods of local residents. Odinga emphasized the sector’s potential as a key source of food and nutrition, advocating for the deployment of professionals to explore untapped maritime opportunities, robust mechanisms to sustain the blue economy, and the capacity to export seafood. He also commended the modernization of the port system and called for environmental conservation measures to protect major lake points.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including host Governor Gladys Wanga, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, Cabinet Secretaries Hon. John Mbadi (Treasury and Economic Planning) and Hon. Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Members of Parliament, Members of County Assemblies, and other county and national government officials.