In 10 years, Kenya will not be importing food - President Ruto promises

The president, who spoke on Wednesday as he laid the foundation stone for the Nanyuki Affordable Housing Project, emphasized the nation’s need to be independent in food production in a bid to save import costs.

He said the country currently spends about Ksh.500 billion on food imports annually, saying that his government was working on boosting production to fully depend on the country's agricultural production capability.

“We are spending almost Ksh.500 billion every year to import food from other countries. In 5 years, we want to reduce the margin from Ksh.500 billion to Ksh. 250 billion and in 10 years, we will no longer be importing any food, we will be producing our own,” he said.

President Ruto cited his administration’s focus on subsidizing fertilizer to ensure farmers accessed it cheaper to boost their production.

This year, the president said the country is expecting 40 per cent more in harvests compared to the past year. 

“The only way to lower the cost of living and increase food production is to help farmers produce more food to get rid of famine,” he said.

“We reduced fertiliser prices and one bag that was costing Ksh.7000 is now going at Ksh.2500 …We are also lucky that this year we have gotten 40% more harvest than the last year.” 

Consequently, the president vowed to address the plight of dairy farmers regarding poor and delayed payments.

He said the State had received a boost of Ksh.37 billion from India to mechanise production and improve production.

According to the head of state, the government through the Kenya Co-operative Creameries (KCC) would eliminate cartels and ensure milk farmers are paid their dues within 15 days from June.

“We agreed to work together with India to help in food production and they gave us Ksh.37 billion. We will use the money on the dairy industry to help KCC to reduce costs and be much more efficient,” he said.

“Saa hizi mkulima analipwa Ksh.45  yule ananunua maziwa analipa Ksh.120, kati ya 45 na 120, hii pesa ingine hapa katikati inaenda kwa nani?”

He added: “I have told KCC that mambo ya kulipa mkulima baada ya miezi mbili hiyo ikome. We want farmers to be paid after one month. From June this year, the farmer will be paid after every 15 days so that they can buy animal feeds and do other things.”

The president at the same time sustained attacks on the Opposition and the Judiciary for what he termed as conspiring to derail the government agenda, adding that he would not hold back in his push to end corruption and deliver on his campaign manifesto.