Siaya Governor James Orengo has hailed the Siriwo Rice Mill in Alego Usonga as a transformational force for the region, pointing to its role in spurring a new 200-acre irrigation scheme and thousands of jobs across the county.
A KSh 60 Million bet paying off
The Siaya County Government commissioned the Siriwo Rice Mill on August 30, 2024, at a cost of KSh 60 million. President Ruto presided over the launch of the facility, located in Usonga Ward, marking the first modern rice mill of its kind in the area.
The mill boasts a processing capacity of 2.5 metric tons per hour and can handle up to 8,000 metric tons of rice annually. Governor Orengo built the project as a cornerstone of his Nyalore manifesto, which targets a shift toward commercial and modern agriculture in Siaya.
200-Acre irrigation scheme unlocked
Governor Orengo says the mill’s operationalisation has directly catalysed the establishment of the new Lower Nzoia Block 12 Irrigation Scheme, covering 200 acres. The scheme is already opening up farmland and expanding rice production capacity in the wider Alego Usonga corridor.
The ripple effects are being felt across the local economy, with the mill and affiliated activities generating over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs for residents in Siaya County.
Private sector steps in
In December 2025, the Siaya County Government signed a 10-year lease agreement with Nile Logistics Ltd to operate and modernise the mill. The partnership is expected to inject private-sector efficiency and capital into the facility, securing its long-term viability.
Governor Orengo framed the deal as a model for county-private partnerships aimed at delivering sustainable agricultural industrialisation across Nyanza.
Orengo’s broader vision
Speaking on the mill’s progress, Orengo linked the project to wider ambitions of making Siaya a food production hub for the Lake Victoria region. He said the county is moving deliberately from subsistence farming toward a commercial agricultural economy.
“The operationalization of the Siriwo Rice Mill has been a major catalyst for regional growth,” Orengo stated, underscoring that infrastructure investment must translate into livelihoods for ordinary Siaya residents.
