Siaya Governor James Orengo is already reaping the rewards of easing tensions with President William Ruto, unveiling a series of transformative development projects backed by the national government just days after a high-level meeting at State House.
In an update posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Orengo announced that his recent meeting with Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya had yielded three major infrastructure initiatives for Siaya County.
Among the projects, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will take over the long-delayed upgrade and completion of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium, signaling a significant boost for local sports and youth empowerment in the region.
In addition, the KDF will spearhead the construction of the Siaya County Referral Hospital Complex, a key step toward expanding access to quality healthcare services for county residents.
“I had fruitful discussions with CS @SoipanTuya and her team at KDF headquarters on the construction of the Siaya County Referral Hospital Complex, the upgrade and completion of Phase 2 of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium, and a partnership with Kenya Shipyards Limited on projects in the county,” Orengo stated.
These new developments come shortly after Orengo and other Siaya leaders met with President Ruto on June 5, 2025, during a State House visit reportedly brokered by Raila Odinga.
That meeting followed increasing public concern that Siaya was lagging behind other counties in the Nyanza region, a situation political observers linked to Orengo’s previously adversarial relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
At State House, Orengo made a direct appeal to President Ruto, urging the national government to support Siaya’s transformation through strategic investment in agriculture and infrastructure.
“Please come to our aid in transforming Siaya. Where agriculture is impactful, national government investment in infrastructure and enterprise can positively change community livelihoods,” Orengo implored the President.
The governor emphasized that support in key sectors would help bridge Siaya’s development gap and improve the lives of its residents.
Orengo also identified agriculture and the blue economy as critical to the county’s future. He pointed to the decline of once-thriving crops like cotton and coffee, calling for urgent revival efforts.
“Siaya used to grow coffee. We were happy to host CS Wycliffe Oparanya, who had a session with our farmers. With the right support, agriculture can thrive again,” he said.
