How I Will Use 2023/24 Budget To Deal With Cost Of Living- Ruto
Ruto took his time to explain the different avenues that he intends to use in terms of budgetary allocations to rescue Kenyans from the tough economic crisis they are grappling with
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto on Sunday, June 25 broke down the roadmap he intends to use to deal with the cost of living as well as increased unemployment with the proposed Financial Budget 2023/24.
Attending a church service in Kajiado, Ruto took his time to explain the different avenues that he intends to use in terms of budgetary allocations to rescue Kenyans from the tough economic crisis they are grappling with and also provide job opportunities.
In starting to deal with the high cost of living, President Ruto stated that he plans to maximize the untapped avenues of bolstering agriculture which will eventually aid in increasing production and lowering the cost of food commodities.
President William Ruto with Kajiado Governor, Joseph Ole Lenku while arriving at an interdenominational service at Ildamat Stadium in Kajiado County on June 25, 2023. /PCS
"We have registered 5 million farmers and we have given each fertilizer, we also have put money in the budget to ensure that we increase fertilizers and seeds to our farmers in the coming year.
"We will build 400 small markets in different parts to help our farmers so that we start the journey of aggregating, value addition, processing and manufacturing to bring money into the farmer's pockets and also create employment for our youth," he stated.
To further assist in the growth of livestock farming, and food production, Ruto revealed that the government will construct about 4,100 dams to curb water shortage.
"For the first time, we have the largest budget in matters of livestock. We lose a lot of livestock because of drought and we have a big plan of constructing dams.
"We will build 100 big dams and we already have contracts for 33 dams. We will also build 1,000 small dams and 3000 water pans," he added.
The President further noted that he would channel resources to end soaring unemployment rates, adding that bilateral talks are ongoing with foreign nations to agree on labour agreements for Kenyans working in all professions including university graduates.
He mandated the State Department of Diaspora Affairs to spearhead the channelling of employment avenues to Kenyans in foreign nations.
"We are in talks with Germany, USA, Canada, and UAE region and they have asked us to give them young people who will go and work there.
"We are planning bilateral labour agreements. We want to agree on how much our young people will be paid when they arrive there we don't want them to suffer," he said.
Other avenues the President said he seeks to create employment are in increasing manufacturing of raw materials, and also onboard as many Kenyans as possible to his ambitious housing plan which has caused a rift among Kenyans.
Ruto further criticised those complaining that the cost of living is high, yet they don't understand what is causing it to be high and neither are they aware of the plan by the government to lower the cost of living.
"You have seen some people discuss the high cost of living till they put on cooking pans on their heads.
"These people are not telling us how putting a cooking pan on the head is going to help lower the high cost of living. It is just that they don't understand. So we have a plan on what to do," he said.
The President has been under sharp criticism regarding the high cost of basic commodities but assured that he was working on lowering the cost so that Kenyans can afford basic commodities at low prices.
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