Investment Conference: Nyanza’s potential biggest economic game-changer

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu City is gearing up for the inaugural edition of the Nyanza International Investment Conference (NIIC), a potential biggest economic game-changer for the region in post-independence Kenya.

Ciala Resort in Kisumu West will host the three-day event, from February 6th to 8th 2025 under the theme of “Nyanza Rising Towards Economic Transformation for Socio-Economic Growth and Development.”

President William Ruto will officially open the event on the 6th. The conference, hosted by the Nyanza Professionals’ Forum (NPF) was initially set for June 28-29, 2024, before being postponed over the anti-government protests at that particular point in time.

Other stakeholders include the six county governments of the former Nyanza (Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nyamira, and Siaya), the National Government, relevant National Government Agencies like the Kenya Investment Authority (KIA), and local and national private sector corporations, including private and public sector associations and organizations.

According to organizers, the conference seeks to address the urgent need for the Nyanza Region and its people to trigger growth and development. This, they say, is to be achieved by unpacking the existing and potential development challenges and turning them into investable opportunities to private sector investors.

During the event, region’s leaders, professionals, and international, national and local stakeholders will have a rare opportunity to showcase the region’s economic endowment, and to present investment opportunities to potential investors.

The conference, a concept note says, will offer opportunities in the form of commercial and development investment projects that are impactful to the local communities, the County Governments, the National Government, and the investors investing in various solicited and unsolicited opportunities.

Nyanza region consisting of the aforementioned counties is home to approximately 7 million people, who live and derive socio- economic livelihood from the rich natural resource bases in the region.

Data shows that the Nyanza region's per capita Gross County Product on average is estimated at Sh190,000, thus demonstrating some potential spending power that could grow further up amid increased opportunities.

Thematic areas for the conference are infrastructure, transport, energy and housing, irrigation, climate change, environment and waste management, agriculture, food security, nutrition and health, education, tourism, sports and the creative economy, technologies and innovation for the blue economy, research, development and regulatory framework and diaspora engagement framework.

Over 600 delegates are expected to attend the conference, headlined by keynote addresses, parallel sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions and side events.

The expected outcomes include investment opportunities being taken up by both local prospecting investors and Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) in the Nyanza Region increasing in number and value, and at least 10 joint partnerships/commercial or investment deals concluded with initial investment plans or, outlays reported on site in post conference period within one year from the event.