By Anderson Ojwang

Despite Siaya county being the home to Kenya’s first vice President the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and also to the father of devolution, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the county has remained sleepy in terms of development.

Siaya County’s Gross County Product (GCP) was Sh 136,809 million in 2022, making up about 1% of Kenya’s national GDP.

 Agriculture remains a key driver of the local economy, contributing roughly 60% of its output, with significant opportunities also present in the blue economy sector, particularly in fisheries and aquaculture.

Any visitor to Siaya would be welcomed by the site of rusty and delipidated buildings, poor road networks, limping economy and hot politics, which are the common menu served in the county.

For Siaya, they had resigned to fate after the fall out between Oginga and president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and signed divorce deed with development.

This explains why the people of Rarieda constituency voted out former cabinet minister Raphael Tuju, who initiated several projects in education, roads and health for supporting then president Mwai Kibaki.

Equally, because of the hot politics, a US investor Calvin Burges, of the Dominion Farms at Yala swamp had to relocate and subsequently Siaya returned to its ghost status with no meaningful investment in agribusiness and other trade.

In the early 2000s, Burges, reclaimed 7,200 hectares, build canals, dykes, spillways and revived the dying Kanyaboli and namboya lakes and turned the swamp into a jewel.

Dominion farm became the innovation hub by producing high quality aromatic rice, fish farming, with a hatchery producing 2.3 million fingerlings a month, stirred the local economy and employed over 1,500.

Despite all these achievements, the former Siaya county assembly vowed to kick out the American investor and Dominion farms CEO Calvin Burgess from Yala swamp, accusing him of belittling the community by peddling falsehoods.  

Before he relocated Burges claimed senior politicians from the region were frustrating his business by extorting money from him and issuing threats.

Currently, Siaya government who was opposed to broad based government and leaders from Siaya witnessing transformative developments in Homa Bay county by the national government are set to benefit from Sh 24 billion projects.

President Ruto yesterday said while in Siaya that the government will spend a total of Sh24 billion this financial year to build 8,000 affordable housing units, 18 new markets, and 11,000-bed student hostels in the county.

He said the National Government has also increased funding for roads in Siaya County from KSh500 million in 2024 to KSh2.5 billion this year, adding that this would be enhanced with another KSh1.5 billion in the course of this financial year.

“In the next one year, you will see a noticeable difference in the road network not only in Siaya, but also across the country,” he said.

On electricity, he said KSh1.8 billion has been set aside to connect 14,000 households to power in the county.

Meanwhile, another KSh550 million has been allocated for the modernization of the local stadium and KSh500 million for a hospital, both in Siaya town.

Furthermore, President Ruto announced that the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will soon commence the construction of a pier in Usenge, which will be accompanied by a new market.

President Rito also commissioned the KSh1 billion Ugunja-Sega-Ukwala Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which will provide more than 10 million liters of water every day to 20,000 households in the area.

He also laid the foundation stone for a modern KSh70 million market at Sidindi centre, Ugunja Constituency.

The President thanked former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for agreeing to work with him in the broad-based government, saying Kenyans will achieve a lot when united.

“I stand here in Siaya and say thank you to Raila for agreeing to work with me in the broad-based government to accelerate Kenya’s development,” he said.

He added that Kenya is a country of immense potential and requires bold leadership to take the country to the league of developed nations.

“There is no shortage of resources or plans. What stands between Kenya and greatness is lack of focused, patriotic, courageous and visionary leadership,” he said.

He pointed out that in just three years since he assumed office, savings at the National Social Security Fund have doubled from KSh320 billion to KSh640 billion.

James Orengo has changed tune and now says the future is bright for President William Ruto and the people of Kenya.

Speaking in Siaya, Orengo said provided that Ruto continue to work for Kenyans and the people of Siaya, his future and that of the country is bright.

A departure from activism and criticism, Orengo acknowledged that “So far, the work is going on and we are happy with the ongoing programs. How many of you agree to the broad-based government to gain development? Siaya, Ugenya, Gem, Alega, Bondo, Rarieda, do you agree to support the broad-based government?”

Previously, Orengo was one of the key Raila’s allies who were opposed to the broad-based government and ran into trouble with his colleagues from Nyanza and the ODM party.

Orengo has been in the recent past frequenting government offices for development projects with some of the projects already rolled out in the county.

The government will not relent in its push to take the procurement of the goods and services it buys on a digital platform, President William Ruto has said.

The President said government officials resisting the new e-procurement system are beneficiaries of the old system, but they will not succeed.

“Procurement and accounting officers do not want this programme because they have been benefiting from the old system,” he said.

He added: “No amount of blackmail and intimidation will force us to go back on the electronic procurement. Any government official who is not willing to use it can resign and go pursue other interests.”

He made the remarks during a church service at Saint Peter’s ACK Cathedral in Alego Usonga Constituency, Siaya County, on Sunday.

Siaya Governor James Orengo, Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and John Mbadi (Treasury), Principal Secretaries, MPs, MCAs, among other leaders, were present.

The e-procurement system was launched in July 2025 and will be the sole platform for all public procurement processes.

President Ruto said digitisation of government services promotes efficiency, transparency and accountability.

“We have said we are putting this e-procurement in place so that everybody can know how much an item was bought for and who sold it to the government,” he said.

He also pointed out that the Social Health Authority’s digital systems were able to identify fraudsters trying to unjustly benefit from the new health system.

“The defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund accumulated a staggering KSh30 billion debt because its systems were weak and opaque. We have eliminated all that in SHA,” he said.

The President maintained that the government will not honor pending NHIF claims without first verifying them to weed out the fake ones from the genuine ones.

On development projects in Siaya, the President said the government is spending a total of KSh24 billion this financial year to build 8,000 affordable housing units, 18 new markets, and 11,000-bed student hostels in the county.

He said the National Government has increased funding for roads in Siaya County from KSh500 million in 2024 to KSh2.5 billion this year, adding that this would be enhanced with another KSh1.5 billion in the course of this financial year.

“In the next one year, you will see a noticeable difference in the road network not only in Siaya, but also across the country,” he said.

The President said the government is spending KSh300 billions of locally raised funds to complete stalled roads and start new ones.

On electricity, he said KSh1.8 billion has been set aside to connect 14,000 households to power in the county.

Meanwhile, another KSh550 million has been allocated for the modernization of the local stadium and KSh500 million for a hospital, both in Siaya town.

Furthermore, President Ruto announced that the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will soon commence the construction of a pier in Usenge, which will be accompanied by a new market.

The President thanked former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for agreeing to work with him in the broad-based government, saying Kenyans will achieve a lot when united.

“I stand here in Siaya and say thank you to Raila for agreeing to work with me in the broad-based government to accelerate Kenya’s development,” he said.

He added that Kenya is a country of immense potential and requires bold leadership to take the country to the league of developed nations.

“There is no shortage of resources or plans. What stands between Kenya and greatness is lack of focused, patriotic, courageous and visionary leadership,” he said.

He pointed out that in just three years since he assumed office, savings at the National Social Security Fund have doubled from KSh320 billion to KSh640 billion.

Further, President Ruto cited reforms in the agriculture, education, and health sectors, which he said are now starting to deliver for ordinary Kenyans.

After the Sunday service, the President commissioned the KSh1 billion Ugunja-Sega-Ukwala Water Supply and Sanitation Project, which will provide more than 10 million liters of water every day to 20,000 households in the area.

He also laid the foundation stone for a modern KSh70 million market at Sidindi centre, Ugunja Constituency.

By Anderson Ojwang

The new procurement system will finally bring an end to the manipulation of procurement process and tackle corruption in tendering.

For eons, cartels have manipulated the tendering process and denied other players fair competition in contract awards.

This explains the opposition to the recent new e-procurement system introduced by Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

The National Treasury last year issued the circular directing all public institutions, including ministries, state corporations, and county governments, to exclusively use the e-GP system for procurement activities by the end of the 2024/2025 financial year.

Recently, the Council of Governors demanded that Treasury revert to the previous procurement system, or they will defy and seek legal redress.

The governors claim that the new system has been implemented haphazardly leading to confusion and paralysis in delivery of services in counties.

Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi said: “We have a crisis regarding e-procurement. Something operationally is not adding up, and we might end up not absorbing any funding.”

Similarly, in the National Assembly, the MPs unanimously endorsed a report by the Delegated Legislation Committee to annul a circular requiring all government agencies to procure goods and services exclusively through the new electronic government procurement system (e-GP).

MPs sitting on the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee questioned the readiness of public entities to adopt the digital platform as well as its transparency and accessibility.

But Mbadi has stood his ground that all the procurement process must go through the new system and dismissed Parliament’s move to annul a circular mandating all public institutions to use the electronic system, insisting that only the Cabinet can overturn such a government directive.

He explained that the circular, like other Treasury-issued directives on zero-based budgeting and the Treasury Single Account, remains legally binding and forms part of the government’s reforms to enhance transparency and efficiency in public financial management.

“I issued a circular for the adoption of e-procurement and that is still the position until Cabinet revokes it. I did not present anything to Parliament for revocation.

There has been contention that e-procurement was revoked. Let me be clear: Parliament has not revoked anything. If any government officer is going to use that as an excuse, I will not accept it

Those opposing the transition are individuals keen on manipulating the procurement system for selfish interests.

I was hired to bring change. Parliament vetted me, and I told them I would implement e-procurement, and they applauded me for it. So how can Parliament now turn around and say the move violates the Constitution? They should show me where,” he said

Mbadi has maintained that the e-procurement directive remains intact, and Parliament has no power to revoke it.

He warned against attempts to undermine the system by some individuals with vested interests in manual tendering processes, noting that opposition to the new system is rooted in efforts to preserve corruption loopholes.

“They want us to go back to manual so they can manipulate tenders by plucking papers.

Once the POs are prepared, we lock the budget. That means when you make payments, they align with the purchase orders. This eliminates cases where you procure but can’t pay because the budget was used elsewhere, “he said.

Mbadi had said the government projected that the e-GP system could save Kenya up to Sh50 billion annually by curbing procurement-related corruption and inefficiencies.

But the MPs raised several concerns about the mandatory adoption of the e-GP system, arguing that it could disadvantage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and businesses in remote areas with limited internet access. 

Mbadi said already 31 counties have submitted budgets and received clearance from the Controller of Budget, four counties are ready to upload on the e-GP system, while 27 counties are finalizing their submissions.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki acknowledged challenges facing some county governments and national government agencies, including his own office, but emphasized that the issues must be resolved, not used as an excuse to return to manual procurement.

Kindiki : “We agree that counties and even my office are experiencing challenges on e-procurement. But we must resolve them, because we will never accept going back to the manual system.”

The Council of Governors (CoG) caucus, have accused  Mbadi of ignoring a recent decision by the National Assembly to annul the mandatory use of e-GPS by all public procuring entities effective July 1, 2025.

Several legislators said the digital infrastructure required to support the system is not yet uniformly available across the country, particularly in rural regions. 

They cited the risk of excluding businesses that lack the technological capacity or resources to engage with the online platform, potentially stifling economic participation.

The committee, chaired by Molo MP Kuria Kimani, also pointed out that the Treasury had failed to conduct adequate stakeholder consultations before issuing the circular. 

They further said that the directive was implemented hastily, without sufficient training or sensitization for public institutions and suppliers.

Several legislators called for a phased approach to the e-GP system’s rollout, suggesting that the government address infrastructure gaps and provide capacity-building programs before enforcing mandatory use.

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By Hope Barbra

Apart from evangelism, a Kenyan Catholic priest based in South Africa is also using music in a quest to unite Kenyans.

Rev. Fr. Charles Orero Ochieng, a priest and music composer has learnt the art of delicate balancing his spiritual calling with composing music both for the church and agitating for the country’s unity and peace.

Rev Orero, a Consolata Missionary priest from Kenya, who works in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg in South Africa, composes for his local Kenya’s Church, St Joseph Mission Kendu Bay, in Karachuonyo, of Homa Bay County.

“I first came to South Africa in 2013 for my theological studies, having completed my philosophical studies in Kenya. 

I got ordained as a deacon in South Africa in the year 2018, after which I went back to Kenya for priestly ordination.

I was ordained a priest in the year 2019. I was then sent to Rome, Italy, for further studies in the year 2020. 

I did a masters in Christian spirituality at Pontifical Gregorian University. In the year 2022, I was sent back to South Africa to serve as a priest,” he says.

Rev Ochieng says the rich experience in Kenya and South Africa, is what motivated him to compose a song’ Kenya Kipenzi Changu (Kenya My Love).

“My experience is that both Kenya and South Africa are blessed with diverse and very rich cultural heritage. My experience has taught me that, without unity, no country can stand firm. In addition, my experience in Kenya and South Africa has taught me that, regardless of language or tribe, we are all children of God, “he explains.

As a Consolata Missionary priest, he has been, for a long time, overwhelmed by the quest for a united Kenya. 

“My prayer and greatest wish is always that Kenya becomes one family. A family of rich diverse culture, a family of justice, a family of love, a family of forgiveness, a family of peace, a family of prayer, a family of support and encouragement, a family of honesty and unity,” he says. 

Rev Orero says his quest for a united Kenya led to composing a song with the title “Kenya Kipenzi Changu.’’ 

“The song reminds us that Kenya is indeed our Mother and if is dear to us, then  we won’t burn her, if Kenya is indeed dear to us then we won’t destroy her properties, if Kenya is indeed dear to us, then we won’t bring division, if Kenya is indeed dear to us, then we  will pray for her, if Kenya is indeed dear to us, then we shall live in peace as brothers and sisters, if Kenya is indeed dear to us , then we will create development and if Kenya is indeed dear to us , then we will promote nationalism. These are the messages contained in my song “Kenya Kipenzi Changu.” he says.

He argues that diversity in language or even tribe is a richness and a great gift from God that, rather than creating division, should indeed be an instrument for complementing one another.

“I find this very evident in the community of the Twelve Apostles, who Jesus called to be with him in serving humanity (Mathew 10:1-4). 

Though they were all Jewish and descended from the twelve tribes of Israel, the group likely contained a mix of people with various regional differences.

Despite this, they had a common goal, and that was to teach the World the virtues taught by Jesus through preaching the Gospel. 

One of their greatest missions was theologically called , “the missionary mandate’’ where Jesus charged them to go to the whole world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all the commands that I gave you ( Mathew 28:19-20)”, he says.

Rev Orero just like the mandate given to the 12 disciples Kenyans too have a mission to build and unite the nation.

“The mission of these twelve Apostles is the mission for every Kenyan. 

To begin with, every Kenyan has a duty to make our Country not only a nation but one family, a family where each individual has a right of expression, a right to religion, a right to equitable distribution of national resources. 

Each Kenyan must bear in mind that, by virtue of birth, we are a people of identity. We cannot help it, but I identify wholly with our Country. 

It is this identity that creates a bond of communion among us. In addition, this identity enables us to appreciate one another and to encourage one another, leading to a source of mutual help and stability for our Nation,” he says

Rev Orero is a music composer for a period of 13 years and has recorded four albums with Saint Joseph’s Kendu Bay Choir. 

“Among my songs is the famous song ” HUYU NI NANI ANAYEITA MITUME.” As a Consolata Missionary priest, I use songs to evangelize people because I believe that a song has the highest power to convey a message that provides solace, comfort, healing, and a deeper connection with God, with one another, and with the whole universe. God bless Kenya,” he says. 

By Reporter

Governors have vowed not to revert to the recently introduced electronic government procurement system (e-GPS) as they threatened to institute legal proceedings against the National Treasury for allegedly forcing them to use the new system.

Through the Council of Governors (CoG) caucus, the county chiefs accuse National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi of ignoring a recent decision by the National Assembly to annul the mandatory use of e-GPS by all public procuring entities effective July 1, 2025.

The governors claim that the new system has been implemented haphazardly leading to confusion and paralysis in delivery of services in counties.

Last week, the National Assembly overturned a circular issued by Mbadi making it mandatory for all government procurement entities to use the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system.

MPs sitting on the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee questioned the readiness of public entities to adopt the digital platform as well as its transparency and accessibility.

The National Treasury had last year issued the circular directing all public institutions, including ministries, state corporations, and county governments, to exclusively use the e-GP system for procurement activities by the end of the 2024/2025 financial year.

The government says the system, launched last July, was aimed at automating and streamlining procurement processes, enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability while reducing opportunities for graft.

Mbadi had said the government projected that the e-GP system could save Kenya up to Sh50 billion annually by curbing procurement-related corruption and inefficiencies.

But the MPs raised several concerns about the mandatory adoption of the e-GP system, arguing that it could disadvantage small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and businesses in remote areas with limited internet access.

Several legislators said the digital infrastructure required to support the system is not yet uniformly available across the country, particularly in rural regions.

They cited the risk of excluding businesses that lack the technological capacity or resources to engage with the online platform, potentially stifling economic participation.

The committee, chaired by Molo MP Kuria Kimani, also pointed out that the Treasury had failed to conduct adequate stakeholder consultations before issuing the circular.

They further said that the directive was implemented hastily, without sufficient training or sensitization for public institutions and suppliers.

Several legislators called for a phased approach to the e-GP system’s rollout, suggesting that the government address infrastructure gaps and provide capacity-building programs before enforcing mandatory use.

But Mbadi dismissed the MPs decision, claiming that they lacked powers to overturn his circular which he said only a Cabinet decision can revoke it.

Speaking during the Development Partnership Forum on Thursday, Mbadi insisted that government officers have no legal or procedural excuse to ignore his circular and that the country will not return to the manual procurement system.

“There has been contention that e-procurement was revoked. Let me be clear: Parliament has not revoked anything. If any government officer is going to use that as an excuse, I will not accept it,” Mbadi stated.

He explained that the circular, like other Treasury-issued directives on zero-based budgeting and the Treasury Single Account, remains legally binding and forms part of the government’s reforms to enhance transparency and efficiency in public financial management.

But governors are now accusing Mbadi of contravening a decision made by the National Assembly which they say is legally binding.

The county chiefs claim that the rollout of e-GPS has been hasty, incomprehensive and marred with inconsistencies that have caused confusion and paralysis of service delivery in various procuring entities.

“Legally, with the annulment of the circular, it is expected that all procuring entities will revert to the public procurement framework s before which is also provided for in existing laws and regulations,” CoG chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi says in a protest letter to Mbadi dated August 23, 2025.

Abdullahi says the implementation of the circular has been devoid of legal regulatory basis and has not considered the distinctiveness of county governments.

“In this regard, the council asks the National Treasury to lift any administrative blocks related to the implementation of e-GP, failure to which we shall be constrained to seek legal redress on the underlying issues as this borders on provision of services across all counties,” Abdullahi says.