It was supposed to be the moment Siaya County unlocked its economic potential after months of aggressive cross-country investor outreach.
Instead, the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference (SITICO) ground to a sudden halt on Oct. 15, 2025, before it could even officially begin, upended by news of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in India.
Raila, who had been scheduled to preside over the conference’s closing ceremony on Oct. 17, had played a pivotal role in the event’s preparation.
According to Siaya County Secretary Elizabeth Adongo, organizers had met with the veteran leader at his Capitol Hill office in Nairobi as late as Sept. 22, 2025, alongside Governor James Orengo, to brief him on their readiness.
Raila had personally confirmed that President William Ruto would officially open the conference at the Siaya National Polytechnic grounds on Oct. 16, with himself closing it the following day.
On the morning of Oct. 15, early arrivals including top private sector executives and senior government officials had already taken their seats in the VVIP pavilion as exhibitors finalized their booths outside. Then, quiet rumours of Raila’s passing began circulating through the venue.
”You could see at the VVIP pavilion that people were in shock,” Adongo recalled. “Outside, exhibitors were still setting up, unaware of what was happening.”
When official confirmation of Raila’s death broke, the atmosphere transformed instantly. Grief swept through the grounds as crying crowds gathered, forcing county officials and national government representatives into emergency consultations.
”Immediately the official statement was released, people were wailing everywhere, and the guests we were holding in the lounge were left wondering what next,” said Adongo. “That was the day Siaya stood still—the day the world stopped, and it stopped in Siaya.”
Recognizing that the delegates and captains of industry shared close ties with the late opposition leader, leadership made the painful decision to cancel the summit. The venue quickly shifted from an investment floor into a gathering point for mourners.
Despite the abrupt cancellation, Adongo noted that the groundwork laid ahead of the conference yielded lasting economic benefits for the county.
Through Raila’s intervention, Siaya identified bankable projects, established connections with key partners, and drafted several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) that were slated for signing during the event.
”In terms of investment and what it did to Siaya, today we see the progress,” Adongo said, highlighting ongoing cane development and planned factory construction by sugar sector investors, alongside ventures in the blue economy, agriculture, and energy including profiling for a proposed nuclear power project.
Adongo emphasized that Raila’s influence extended beyond the aborted conference, pointing to his legacy in championing devolution and critical infrastructure in the Lake Victoria region, including the Port of Kisumu and satellite ports at Usenge, K’okach, Luanda Kotieno, and Wichlum.
While sector-level discussions are ongoing toward rescheduling the summit at an opportune time, Adongo said the initial preparation alone has positioned Siaya for long-term growth.
”All the industry captains and investors agreed the event could not proceed, but they promised to come back in his honor,” she said.
