William Ruto Asks Kenyans to Give Him One Year to Lower Unga Prices: “Nitanyorosha”

• President William Ruto asked Kenyans to be patient amid the high cost of living, worsened by high fuel and food prices
• The head of state said the government had initiated the process to lower the cost of producing food by empowering farmers with subsidised fertiliser
• The United Democratic Alliance leader who ascended to power with the promise to lower the cost of living insisted that his government was keen on improving food security

President William Ruto has asked Kenyans to be patient amid the high cost of living, worsened by high fuel and food prices.

Speaking during the groundbreaking of Soweto East Zone B Social Housing in Kibra, Nairobi county, on Tuesday, October 25, Ruto said the government needs one year to lower unga prices.

“I know the cost of living is high. You know that the prices went up because of the mess created the ‘handshake’ regime in the last four years. Nitanyorosha hiyo mambo kwa mwaka moja. We have already started the process of lowering unga prices by giving farmers 1.4 million bags of subsidised fertiliser,” said Ruto.

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The head of state explained that his manifesto to empower farmers to produce more maize at an affordable cost was the way to go.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leader who ascended to power with the promise to lower the cost of living insisted that his government was keen on improving food security.

“Bei ya chakula bado iko juu sana. Bei ya unga bado iko juu sana. Mwisho wa mwaka huu tunapanga kuwa na mbolea millioni sita. (The cost of food is high. The cost of maize flour is high. We have begun rolling out our food programme by providing farmers with 1.4 million bags of affordable fertiliser. By the end of the year, we will provide another six million bags),” Ruto said.

Kipkorir Menjo welcomes William Ruto’s move

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Kipkorir Menjo, the director of Kenya Farmers Association, North Rift region, told TUKO.co.ke that subsiding farm inputs was a long-term solution to the high food prices in Kenya.

“That’s the way to go. Farmers should not be left on their own. The move to subsidise fertiliser is good because it will increase food production at an affordable cost. The cartels have been exploiting farmers, and this move would improve food security, said Menjo.

Menjo, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga’s pointman in Uasin Gishu, also said the government should gradually introduce genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

“Some GMO seeds are doing well, for instance, the BT cotton. However, GMOs are docked with controversies on health issues. The government should verify these allegations and establish whether there are side effects,” he said.

Source: TUKO.co.ke