Canadian High Commissioner Pays Courtesy Call on Siaya County Leadership

Siaya County today hosted the Canadian High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Joshua Tabah, during his first official visit outside Nairobi since assuming office. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Ms. Linda Kagota, International Assistance Officer at Global Affairs Canada and was received on behalf of Governor James Orengo by the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Maurice McOrege.

Also present were CECM for Tourism, Sports, Culture and Arts, Mrs. Angeline Atieno Oduor; her counterpart for Governance, Administration and ICT, Mr. Agunda Ochanda; Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock, Food Security and Blue Economy, Mrs. Elizabeth Adongo and the Director of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Director for Executive Affairs, Ms. Zilpha Menya.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner expressed keen interest in understanding Siaya’s development priorities and exploring how Canada could build on existing initiatives. He highlighted ongoing discussions with the county to refurbish selected institutions by integrating advanced agricultural technologies.

He also noted that the National Cereals and Produce Board had engaged Canadian partners on innovations to improve farming practices. Through Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCAN), Canada supports several Technical Training Institutes (TTIs) in Siaya, with a focus on equipping semi-skilled youth particularly the county’s talented young people with practical technical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.

The High Commissioner also reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting women leaders across Kenya, in line with broader efforts to promote women’s empowerment. Ms. Kagota emphasized the importance of encouraging youth to pursue value addition in agriculture and to start businesses. On women’s empowerment, she announced plans to scale up Canada’s grassroots program, previously known as Pambazuko la Wanawake, to promote women’s economic self-sufficiency through targeted support.

The visit included discussions with Governor Orengo and tours of vocational training centres supported by Canadian programs, such as the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training initiative. These efforts aim to advance agriculture, skills development, youth opportunities, and gender equality in Siaya County.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor, Mr. McOrege welcomed the delegation and thanked the Canadian government for its longstanding support, particularly in the education sector. This includes funding for Vocational Training Institutes through programs like the Kenya Blue Economy Skills Training initiative, which equips youth with practical, market-relevant skills.

Mrs. Adongo highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding between Taber Municipal District (Canada) and the Siaya County Government to advance farming practices. She referenced a recent visit by county officials to the St. Mary’s River Irrigation District in Canada, where they observed firsthand the benefits of modern agricultural technology. She expressed Siaya’s strong interest in drawing on Canadian expertise for innovations in farming practices and engineering solutions tailored to the county’s specific needs.

The county also acknowledged the TANGO Foundation’s two-week engagement in Siaya in early 2025, during which the foundation supported hospital operations and facilitated professional exchanges in surgery, maternal health, and emergency response.

In discussions on expanding partnerships, Mr. Ochanda praised the collaboration with the Canadian Council, while Mrs. Oduor pointed to significant potential in youth empowerment through sports and the arts, noting their vital role in driving economic growth and social cohesion in the county. This visit marks a significant step forward in Canada–Siaya cooperation, with a strong focus on agriculture, technical training, women’s empowerment, healthcare, youth development, and governance.

Both county leaders and the Canadian delegation expressed optimism about continued and deepened ties to drive sustainable progress in Siaya County.