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Orengo postpones Investment and Trade Conference after Raila’s death
15th October, 2025 03:46 PM
The Siaya Investment Conference, scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Siaya National Polytechnic, has been suspended indefinitely to allow Kenyans to mourn ODM leader Raila Odinga.
According to Siaya Governor James Orengo, Jakom (Raila) was scheduled to close the investment conference on Friday, October 17, 2025. However, he has decided to cut it short and end it on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Watch: End of an era as Raila Odinga passes away
“These circumstances dictate a review of the ongoing trade and investment conference program. So, all the plenary and side events are postponed to a latter date, “said Orengo.
Flanked by County Speaker George Okode, Executive leaders of his government, and development partners, Orengo emphasised the event’s postponement, adding that he had spoken to Raila on Monday, who gave him the go-ahead for the conference.
“He was determined and gave us encouragement to proceed with the event as planned. The only tragedy is that he was spared to close it, and for sure he has done that by passing away,” he added.
Orengo said the event has been closed to allow Kenyans to join the Nation, mourning the departed leader.
“We highly regret the inconvenience cost,” he added.
Orengo, at the same time, revisited his friendship and the struggles he went through as the Former Premier while he was alive.
Kenya has not just lost a politician, but a revolutionary, a visionary, and a singular force whose shadow stretches across the most consequential five decades of our history. We have lost our patriot, the symbol of our resolute and relentless champion of our political and economic rights, “Orengo added.
Also watch: ODM turns Kajiado rally into mourning event for late Raila Odinga
The County boss said for decades, he has stood shoulder to shoulder with Raila in the trenches for the struggle of democracy, constitutionalism and justice in Kenya.
“We shared prison cells, faced exile and navigated the complex and often dangerous waters of political opposition against a repressive autocratic state.”
The democracy, multi-party space and constitutional freedom Kenya enjoys today bear the indelible mark of his sacrifices and endurance.
“He was a life fully committed to the ideal of a fair, just and prosperous society. Raila’s death has left a void that no single individual can fill. As we mourn, let us honour his memory not just with the tribute but by reaffirming our commitment to the values he championed; the fight against corruption, demand for justice and fair elections and the pursuit of national unity achieved on Justice.”
Raila supporters
Earlier, ODM leader Raila Odinga’s supporters stormed the governor’s office at around 12:30 pm and were deterred from accessing the offices despite forcing their way in while holding Odinga’s portrait with SITICO branding.
At the time, Governor James Orengo and Speaker George Okode, with other leaders from the corporate world and banks, were holding a crucial meeting to determine the fate of the SITICO Event.
Also watch: Thousands of Kisumu residents take to the streets to mourn ODM leader Raila Odinga
The youths went to the extent of lowering the County and national flags to half-mast.
It is a solemn and symbolic gesture of lowering the flag halfway down the flagpole. It is a visual representation of mourning and respect for a significant event or loss. The lowered position of the flag serves as a reminder of the sombre occasion. It allows people to pay their respects.
The artist who had drawn a portrait of Raila Odinga and wanted to make a kill out of it in the SITICO conference was forced to surrender it to the charged youths at the governor’s office.
“The death of Raila is indeed a blow to us. A portrait of Raila that had been planned to give him during the SITICO conference has been taken by the rowdy youths. Now that they have it, they can conclude that they have also contributed to it as a way of mourning Baba.”
After the portrait landed in the hands of the youths, they exited the headquarters grounds, thus returning to normal county activities.
“We are no longer interested in the elections for this Country. It’s the urge to make Raila president that was pushing us to wake up early and cast a vote at the polling stations, and now that he is no more, we are disinterested in the polls, “some youths shouted.
In Bondo town, businesses were paralysed with owners of the shops, students heading to Opoda farm, the home of Raila.
“The death of Raila has shocked us this morning. We can’t do business today because for our business to thrive here in Bondo, peace reigned., “said Omondi John, a cereals vendor.
Hotels in Bondo, including the Parkside hotel, which attracts government staff, court officials, and other ministries, remained closed.
Business at the beaches was halted with lorries meant to pick fish blocked.
Two lorries transporting fish to Nairobi were blocked at Kambajo.
Sirongo Beach Management Unit (BMU) member Sylvia Achieng’ Odera expressed her pain upon learning of Railas. “The sad news that we learnt from the media has disrupted our business, and most of the fishermen have taken to motorbikes,” she stated.
However, in Siaya town, business went as usual with beehive activities being felt at Bondo Junction.
