NCPB will buy rice at Ksh.85, Ruto assures Mwea residents

Speaking in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, the Head of State said his government will protect rice farmers in the giant Mwea irrigation scheme. 

Rice farmers in Mwea irrigation Scheme are pleased by President William Ruto announcement that the Government will be buying their unprocessed rice for Ksh. 85 per kilogramme.

“I am told that the national cereal and produce board is buying rice at Ksh.72 per kilogramme and I have told them to return the price to Ksh.85 per kilogramme, as it was,” Ruto said. 

There was an outcry in Mwea irrigation scheme last week after NCPB announced that it will be buying at Ksh.72 per kilo last week.

“Government has been buying rice at Ksh. 85 per kilogramme after former president Uhuru Kenyatta ordered February 13, 2020. We wonder why NCPB in Mwea are lowering the price,” John Munene, a rice farmer at the Thiba section wondered.

Kirinyaga Senator James Kamau Murango said the new rates will help the farmer reduce the cost of production.

“I am very happy with the president's announcement because rice farmers right now are harvesting rice in all sections,” Murango, who is also chairman of the agriculture committee in the senate said.