The curtains came down on a transformative three-day departmental review meeting held at Distinction Gardens in Siaya County, where the Kisumu County Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Blue Economy gathered to reflect on sectorial legacy and future growth.
Hosted by the Fisheries Directorate, the forum brought together active officers from across eight sub-counties and 15 esteemed retirees to bridge the gap between foundational expertise and modern innovation.
In his keynote address, the Executive Committee Member (CECM) for the department, Hon. Ken Onyango, emphasized that public service must be driven by passion rather than mere financial gain.
He challenged staff to leave positive footprints by thinking outside the box to improve service delivery, noting that a professional’s true legacy is defined by the lives they touch and the systems they improve.
A central theme of the meeting was the formal acknowledgment of veterans, with Hon. Onyango calling for an end to the culture of staff exiting service quietly.
He advocated for the scaling up of these reviews to ensure every retiring officer is celebrated for their contribution to the county’s development.
The County Director of Agriculture, Mr. Walter Odum, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of capacity building and outcome-based performance.
He noted that retirement should be viewed as a professional transition rather than an end, while also advocating for prioritized staff welfare in future budgeting.
Madam Susan Adhiambo, the Director of Fisheries and Blue Economy, lauded the seamless relationship fostered between the directorate and supporting departments such as Procurement, Human Resources, and the Aquaculture Business Development Programme (ABDP).
Highlighting the mentorship provided by the 15 retirees, she reaffirmed the county’s commitment to transforming the Blue Economy through new technologies and cooperatives to boost food security and job creation.
The event concluded with a symbolic awarding of gifts and cutting of the cake, marking a grateful farewell to those who built the sector’s bedrock.
