Ruto Dodges Journalist's Question On Azimio-Kenya Kwanza Talks [VIDEO]
However, the Head of State seemed to have viewed the question of the talks as a means of diverting attention from the real matter at hand, agriculture, and denied to comment on the incoming talks.
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President William Ruto on Wednesday, August 2 played cagey when he was put on the spot regarding the planned negotiation talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja coalitions to end the political impasse between the two.
During a press briefing at State House Nairobi, TV47 news anchor and reporter, Grace Kuria Kanja, challenged President Ruto to provide his comments regarding the planned talks which are part of a new way of resolving the political impasse that has seen the opposition take to the streets through anti-government protests.
That question was saved for last while Kuria also implored President Ruto to share the government's plans of harvesting water ahead of the short rains set to begin in the last quarter of 2023.
However, the Head of State seemed to have viewed the question of the talks as a means of diverting attention from the real matter at hand, agriculture, and denied to comment on the incoming talks.
Here is the video:
Here is the excerpt:
Grace Kuria: Two questions, I'll go with the first, what plans does the government have to harvest water now that, as you've said, we have an early warning from the weatherman?
President Ruto: And your second question?
Grace Kuria: My second question, Your Excellency, is ahead of the anticipated talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio...
President Ruto: Please let's not go there, let's not go there...so let's stick with the first question...
Moments before the State House address, Kenya Kwanza had already settled on its five-member team to lead negotiations with Azimio.
The leaders picked include National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and Leader of Majority of the Senate, Aaron Cheruiyot. Others include Governor Cecily Mbarire, Hassan Omar and Catherine Wambilianga.
Kenya Kwanza is slated to face the Azimio team which is led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and will include the following members; the Leader of the Minority Party in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi, DAP Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.
Ruto Reduces Cost of Subsidised Fertiliser
In the address regarding interventions in Kenya's agriculture, Ruto announced that the prices of 50 kg of subsidized fertilizer were reduced from Ksh3,500 to Ksh2,500.
“We shall immediately begin to bring down the cost of fertilizer from Ksh3,500 to Ksh2,500 per 50-kilogram bag beginning yesterday (Tuesday, August 1). Yesterday alone 34,000 bags of subsidized fertilizer were sold to our farmers, a record in a long time,” said Ruto.
“At this price, we expect significantly higher uptake of fertilizer since fertilizer is the game changer of our agricultural productivity this should translate to higher production in the next planting season."
Ruto also encouraged farmers to double the use of fertilizers per acre so as to increase agricultural production in the coming seasons and appealed to farmers to double the use per acre to increase the same.
“Our target is to produce 61 million bags annually between this season and 2027. Long rains usually account for 80 per cent of a season’s production.
"From the long rain season alone, an estimated yield of 44 million bags is expected, compared to last year’s 32 million bags,” Ruto asserted.
Ruto On Why Sugar Prices Have Shot Up
Regarding the skyrocketing of the cost of sugar, President Ruto blamed the shortage of sugarcane in many farms which have forced many factories in Kenya to shut down temporarily due to the lack of raw materials for production, thus forcing retailers to push up the cost of sugar to Ksh500.
“It’s true the prices have gone up we have been reluctant to work against farmers by opening importation because it has always been a problem in Kenya. Sometimes it has been used to destroy the whole sugar industry,” Ruto stated.
He added that the shortage has even forced some companies to harvest premature cane and further lamented the laxity in the sugar industry as well as lawlessness, factors the government promises to address through measures aimed at organising and improving the sector.
“We have had confusion and chaos in the whole sugar subsector and we are streamlining that sector because it has been riddled with poaching of sugarcane from one corner to another. The reason why many companies have closed shop temporarily is because there is no cane to harvest and they were even harvesting immature cane,” he added.
Ruto also explained that although the government was initially reluctant to allow the importation of sugar, circumstances have forced the Executive to walk back on that stance.
Sugar being sold in a supermarket. /STANDARD DIGITAL
“We have been careful and methodical but finally we have given licenses for the importation of sugar into the country. We started with COMESA sugar but it was not available. As required by the signatories we cannot open sugar to other markets before we start with the COMESA sugar.
“Now that we have ascertained that there is not sufficient supply, in the COMESA area we have opened globally, and in the next two weeks we will see different situations because we expect a stock of sugar,” said Ruto.
He nonetheless assured that by the end of August 2023, the prices would decrease as new stocks of goods make their way into the country, even though he reinforced his commitment to finding long-term solutions to address the high cost of sugar.
Ruto emphasized the empowering of farmers as important in addressing the sugarcane shortage issue, one that would be boosted through the lowering of fertiliser prices.
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