Ruto: We must stop with the negativity, Kenya is not a failed state

President William Ruto has pushed back against critics questioning his administration’s performance, insisting the country is on the right track.

“We must stop the naysayers. We must stop with the negativity. Kenya is not a failed state. As we move this journey, we will move together. We will have a greater country than we have today,” he said on Monday.

Speaking in Gikambura, Kikuyu, during the burial of Mzee Isaac Ichung’wah, father of National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Ruto announced that Kenya is set to achieve its highest maize harvest in history, projecting close to 75 million bags this year.

The President described the bumper harvest as a milestone in the country’s food security efforts.

“This year, we will harvest close to 75 million bags of maize. This is the highest amount in the history of Kenya,” Ruto said.

This is more than the 70 million bags that Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Saturday said the government expects this year.

At the same time, Ruto praised Ichung’wah as a steadfast ally in government and Parliament, describing him as more than just a political partner.

“In Kimani Ichung’wah, we have a great leader. He is not just my friend but my brother. This man has taken many bullets for me. He has carried some burdens even my brothers could not,” Ruto told mourners.

The Agriculture Ministry recorded a maize harvest of 67 million bags in 2024 and 34.3 million bags in 2022.

Kagwe over the weekend said the government plans to restock the National Strategic Food Reserve by purchasing directly from farmers, which he said will not only guarantee food security for the nation but also provide farmers with a reliable market for their produce.