The Vision
Building a Progressive, Inclusive, and Resilient Community.
FOD is a community-led movement driving Onagi socioeconomic empowerment through strategic introspection and shared prosperity.
The Action
Buy Nyanza, Build Nyanza: A Rallying Call for Economic Empowerment
We are transforming our local economy by modernizing value chains and driving sustainable wealth creation through our FOD-Rilakin partnership.
The Solidarity
Solidarity for a Resilient Future
Join a community dedicated to mutual support. Our Welfare Fund and empowerment model ensure every member stands with dignity and purpose.
The Innovation Approach
Empowered by Technology
We harness this digital platform and modern ICT solutions to connect our professionals, access global market data, and drive innovation across our community and counties.
About FOD: Identity & Purpose
Our Origin
FOD was founded at the historic 2017 Galamoro meeting at Enigma Resort, Kisumu, a gathering that laid the foundation for a non-political forum focused on critical discussion, economic empowerment, and social transformation of the Onagi community.
Our Mission
To serve as a non-political platform that drives critical discourse, mobilizes collective resources, and catalyzes economic and social transformation for every member of the Onagi community, at home and in the diaspora.
The 5 Pillars of the Movement
Food
Ensuring food security and agricultural transformation.
Clothing
Dignified living standards for all members.
Shelter
Access to affordable and decent housing.
Healthcare
Community health and wellness programs.
Education
Bursaries, scholarships, and skills development.
Adopted Galamoro Vision Statement
At the inaugural Galamoro meeting on 22 December 2017, members reached consensus on the movement's shared vision.
Onagi First
Our rallying call to prioritize Onagi community interests in every initiative, putting our people, resources, and opportunities first as we build shared prosperity.
Genesis of the Movement
The idea was mooted by Dr. Bell Okello and Mr. Joab Osumba to galvanize the Onagi community for economic emancipation. What began as alumni discussions grew into WhatsApp and Telegram groups, then evolved into the robust, member-governed Forum for Onagi Development we know today.
Challenges & Strategic Solutions
Our approach is grounded in the issues identified at the Galamoro inaugural meeting and the remedies agreed by members.
Underdevelopment
Proposed Solution: Set and focus on short, medium, and long-term objectives, putting Onagi community interests first.
Negative Profiling
Proposed Solution: Address youth behaviour, define the role of professionals in behaviour change, tame appetite for public resources, and cultivate virtuous value systems.
Depleted Economies
Proposed Solution: Drive behaviour and attitude change, balance export promotion with import substitution, and pursue comparative advantage in what we do best.
Clarity of Purpose
Proposed Solution: Draw a roadmap with clear action points, timeframes, and rules of engagement. Undertake SWOT/SCWOTRIPEL analysis leading to bankable projects.
Linking Past & Future
Proposed Solution: Interrogate past initiatives, revive collapsed enterprises, align CIDPs to priority sectors and value chains, and strengthen inter-county collaboration.
Professional Engagement
Proposed Solution: Build professional consensus before political engagement. Form expert clusters pooling intellectual and financial capital, with diaspora membership.
Economic & Regional Strategy
Import Substitution & Export Promotion
A dual economic approach, reducing imports into the region while producing surplus for export beyond Nyanza, to grow local cash flow and build resilient local economies.
CIDP & County Plan Alignment
Using County Integrated Development Plans and County Strategic Plans as entry points to mainstream FOD priorities into local government development agendas.
Lake Region Economic Blueprint
Aligning FOD aspirations with the LREB strategy, leveraging economies of scale, shared resources, and Lake Victoria assets across the Lake Region Economic Block.
SWOT & Bankable Projects
Conducting regional SWOT/SCWOTRIPEL analysis to strategically guide the initiative toward actionable, bankable projects with clear deliverables and timelines.
Revival of Collapsed Enterprises
A broad strategic commitment to reviving stalled and collapsed economic enterprises, ginneries, breweries, textile industries, and other productive assets across the region.
Expert & Professional Clusters
Forming clusters of professionals and practitioners who pool intellectual and financial capital, invest together, and leverage government links to identify opportunities.
Diaspora Chapter
Engaging Onagi members abroad, across the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia, as a distinct chapter contributing networks, capital, skills, and market access back to the homeland.
Investment Climate
Addressing unfavourable investment conditions, not just capital shortages, by improving the enabling environment for enterprise and local business ownership.
FOD & Rilakin International
Two complementary entities working in tandem, one governing, one growing.
Forum for Onagi Development (FOD)
Provides community governance and manages the Members' Welfare Fund. FOD is the democratic heart of the movement, setting direction, ensuring accountability, and protecting member interests.
Rilakin International Ltd
Serves as the commercial vehicle to drive investment and generate returns. Rilakin translates the community's pooled capital into real economic activity across priority sectors.
The Dual-Track Capital Model
Two clear pathways to participate, choose the level that suits your goals and capacity.
Equity Participation
For Active Full Members to acquire shares in Rilakin International Limited. Participate in the commercial growth of the movement with equity ownership.
- Share acquisition in Rilakin
- Voting rights in commercial decisions
- Dividend participation
Subscription (Kitty)
Contribute to the Members' Kitty without equity risk. Governed by the Law of Contract Act, a safe, accessible entry point for all members.
- No equity risk
- Access to welfare benefits
- Governed by contract law
Sector & Theme Clusters
Eleven sector clusters identified at the Galamoro inaugural meeting, ranked by member priority scores from wall discussions.
Agriculture / Livestock / Fisheries
Agricultural modernization, value chains in Sorghum, Cassava, Dairy, Poultry, and fisheries across all four counties.
Trade, Industry & Spatial Planning
Reviving collapsed enterprises, manufacturing hubs, motorbike assembly, textile revival, breweries, and spatial economic planning.
Culture, Heritage, Tourism & Behavior Change
IPC framework for positive mindset, youth mentorship, tourism marketing, attitude transformation, and preserving Onagi cultural heritage.
Finance, Banking & Cooperatives
SACCO formation, MFI growth, cooperative societies, and the SACCO > MFI > community bank pathway for resource mobilization.
ICT & Data Management
The www.onagidev.net platform, digital villages, market information systems, and regional ICT connectivity.
Water, Forestry & Wildlife
Strategic water partnerships, agroforestry, natural resource management, and environmental conservation.
Energy
Waste-to-energy projects, renewable energy, and energy solutions for productive sectors.
Health Beyond Welfare
Specialist hospitals, regional health ICT, improving doctor-patient ratios (1:40,000), and health infrastructure investment.
Infrastructure
Roads, waterways, Lake Victoria ring road concept, and transport infrastructure linking counties.
Education & TIVET / HRD
TIVET skills development, centres of excellence, academic support, scholarships, and human resource development.
Mining
Identified as an emerging cluster for future exploration and resource assessment.
Finance pathway: The Galamoro report envisions a progression from SACCO formation > Micro Finance Institution (MFI) > community bank, creating a regional financial facility to support entrepreneurship and bankable projects.
County Opportunities & Agricultural Profiles
Breakout findings from the Galamoro meeting and Lake Region Economic Blueprint agricultural opportunity maps across our four core counties.
Kisumu County
Galamoro Breakout Priorities
- Mapping agro-enterprises by comparative advantage; youth engagement in sorghum and cassava production for breweries and starch extraction
- Energy production from Kisumu garbage dumping site at Kachok
- Attitude & behaviour change mentorship programmes for youth entrepreneurship
Agricultural Opportunities (LREB)
- Sugar cane (Muhoroni, Chemelil, Kibos), rice (Nyando, Awach), sorghum, soya bean
- Livestock, fishing (Kaloka, Ndere Island, Dunga, Sango, Kusa beaches)
- Agroforestry and rice milling
Siaya County
Galamoro Breakout Priorities
- Sorghum contract farming, mango food processing factory (Ramba Asembo Rarieda)
- Cotton growing and ginnery revival (Uyoma), dairy and poultry commercialization
- Fish farming, French beans, Irish potatoes, hospitality tourism, cereal trade
- Motorbike assembling plant, textile and brewery revival, public transport investment
Agricultural Opportunities (LREB)
- Maize, sorghum, millet, beans, cassava, groundnuts, cotton, rice, passion fruits
- Dairy cattle, goats, poultry, bee keeping, fish farming (Lake Victoria, Kanyaboli)
- Rice production in Yala swamp, agroforestry and tree nurseries
Migori County
Galamoro Breakout Priorities
- Cassava & sorghum contract farming (Nyatike, Suna West, Suna East) for EABL Kisumu
- Sugar beet advocacy, dairy upgrading and value addition (Awendo, Uriri, Rongo)
- Vegetables, cereals, fruits for Nyanza market; sports for behaviour change
- Agroforestry, water partnerships, traditional basket (othith) branding for elders
Agricultural Opportunities (LREB)
- Maize, sorghum, beans, cassava, tobacco, sugarcane, sunflower, sisal
- Livestock (Zebu cattle, goats, indigenous chicken, bee keeping)
- Bamboo farming (Suba East), rice expansion (Uriri, Rongo, Migori, Kuria West, Awendo)
Homa Bay County
Galamoro Breakout Priorities
- County chapter representation to be strengthened — Homa Bay was not represented at the first Galamoro
- Priority engagement across agriculture, fisheries, and cultural transformation aligned with regional strategy
Agricultural Opportunities (LREB)
- Food crops: maize, beans, sorghum, millet, kale, sweet potatoes, peas
- Cash crops: sugar cane (Ndhiwa), sunflower (Suba), pineapples (Rangwe), potatoes (Kasipul)
- Livestock, fish farming, cotton farming (Mbita, Homa Bay Town, Rangwe, Karachuonyo)
Members' Welfare Framework
The Members' Welfare Fund is a mutual solidarity mechanism, not charity. Every contributing member is both a benefactor and a potential beneficiary.
Bereavement Support
Financial assistance during the loss of a member or immediate family.
Serious Illness
Support for members facing critical medical situations.
Education Bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries for members' children and dependants.
Disaster Support
Emergency relief for members affected by natural or personal disasters.