RUNDOWN
• The government has a three-phase model which will address the high cost of living that has been making life unbearable for many Kenyans.
• In the first phase, reducing the cost of food products.
• In the second phase, import 10 million bags of “different assorted types of food”.
• In the last phase, the government is in the process of importing 300,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer
President William Ruto has explained how his government plans to address the high cost of living that has been making life unbearable for many Kenyans.
He revealed this during the 59th Jamhuri Day Celebrations at Nyayo Stadium yesterday, where he told the nation that his government has a three-phase model in which they will address the situation.
In the first phase, President Ruto stated that his government aims at reducing the cost of food products by increasing production of farm produce which will be highly facilitated by the reduction of cost of fertilizers.
“Our first agenda is to ensure that we encourage our farmers to access affordable fertilizer and that is why we reduced fertilizer from Ksh.7,000 to Ksh.3,500 so that we can enable our farmers to enhance their productivity and make food affordable in our republic,” said Ruto.
The President further stated that the government is planning to import 10 million bags of “different assorted types of food” including maize to bridge the gap of having a minimal harvest “in this year’s agricultural season occasioned by climate change and failure of rain.”
In the last phase, Ruto added, the government is in the process of importing 300,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer through the private sector ahead of the planting season in the early part of 2023 (January to April).
“Already two million bags have arrived in the country and 4 million bags are on the way,” said Ruto.
President Ruto assured farmers that the government will be firm in implementing the three-phase plan to relieve the burden of high cost of living from the shoulders of Kenyans.
“I want to assure our farmers that we are going to stand with them to make sure that government provides adequate seed and subsidized fertilizer to make sure that our productivity is enhanced so that we can produce enough food and reduce the challenges of the high cost of living in our republic”, said Ruto.
By Irene Mutu
