Governor James Orengo hosted a delegation from the Canadian Embassy led by the High Commissioner, His Excellency Christopher Thornley, at his office today. The meeting served as a precursor to a visit of several Vocational Training Institutes in Siaya County, funded by Global Affairs Canada under the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training program.
The Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training initiative connects Canadian colleges and institutes with Kenyan Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. It emphasizes training opportunities for women, youth, and vulnerable populations. In Siaya County, institutions such as Bondo Technical Training Institute, Lucy Onono and Mahaya Vocational Training Centres are among the beneficiaries of this program.
Siaya County plays a vital role in Kenya’s Blue Economy sector. The county government is committed to contributing approximately 30.1 million metric tons to the national fish output, leveraging its strategic position near Lake Victoria. During the meeting, Gov. Orengo called for sustained collaboration and assured the delegation of Siaya County’s dedication to investing in the Blue Economy.
The Nyalore administration continues to explore strategic partnerships with the Canadian Government. In 2018, a delegation from Siaya made its inaugural visit to Canada. This was followed by a reciprocal visit in 2022 from representatives of the Municipal District of Taber in southern Alberta. That same year, Taber and Bondo Municipality were twinned, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities.
In June 2024, Gov. Orengo led a high-powered delegation to the Town of Taber for a knowledge-sharing visit focused on agriculture, governance, and municipal services. The delegation toured the Taber Fire Hall, where they engaged with Mayor Andrew Prokop and local officials on firefighting preparedness, training, and modern technology, including the use of a Fire APP.
On 10th to 14th February 2025, Siaya County hosted Canada’s The Association of Nurses and Global Outreach (TANGO). The delegation, led by Dr. Ryan Torrie, conducted a week-long medical camp that included major and minor general surgeries, as well as obstetrics and gynecology operations. By the end of the exercise, the team had performed 107 procedures at Bondo Sub-County Hospital and Siaya Referral Hospital.
These ongoing collaborations reflect Governor Orengo’s deliberate strategy to forge strategic partnerships with key development partners. Such efforts align with Nyalore administration’s 9-Point Agenda, aimed at delivering transformative development to the citizenry of Siaya.