Ruto says funds from Safaricom, Kenya Pipeline shares to finance agricultural reforms

Speaking during the first Agriculture and Food Security Summit at Jamhuri Park, President Ruto said part of the Ksh.320 billion held in the National Infrastructure Fund will be used to construct 1,250 dams aimed at moving Kenyan farmers away from dependence on unpredictable rain-fed agriculture and towards irrigation.

The President said the move is intended to address recurrent crop failures and strengthen food security.

Gracing the inaugural Agriculture and Food Security Summit, President Ruto used the occasion to defend his administration’s track record and outline his vision for a sector that contributes nearly half of the country’s GDP.

The Head of State said his administration’s decision to sell shares in Safaricom and Kenya Pipeline was aimed at raising funds to support investments that will help stabilise the agriculture sector amid a struggling economy.

“Pesa tuko nayo kwa NIF tuko na shilingi bilioni 320. Hiyo pesa tumeuza hisa kidogo pale Safaricom, Kenya Pipeline ndio tukaweka hiyo pesa. Tunataka kutumia hiyo pesa kuweka kwa dams and we will make more money than we are making pale kwa Safaricom na Kenya Pipeline lakini Kenya Pipeline haijakwama,” Ruto said.

With Kenya experiencing unpredictable rainfall over the last six years, a situation that continues to affect agricultural productivity, President Ruto said an elaborate plan to transform farming is already underway.

“Tunataka kujenga dam kubwa 50, dam kawaida 200 na tunajenga dam ndogo ndogo 1,000 kuhakikisha ya kwamba tuna badilisha kilimo, tuna transition itoke hii ya kungonjea mvua twende kwa irrigation kwa sababu hii ya kungojea mvua iko na guess work," Ruto added. 

"Hujui itanyesha lini, tunangoja El Nino wale wetu walituambia ilikuwa mwezi wa nane ikasonga ikakuwa mwezi wa tisa, ndio sasa imefika tarehe ngapi leo hatujaona, tunahangaika kungoja."

While outlining what he termed as his administration’s achievements, President Ruto cited the registration of farmers, subsidised fertiliser and the opening of new markets for agricultural produce as some of the changes he says have had a positive impact on the sector.

“Wale ma cartel tuliwafukuza one way. Kama kuna wakulima wa miwa wata kuambia factory hazikuwa zinalipa wafanyakazi. Mkulima wa miwa akipeleka miwa yake analipwa within seven days, ile walikuwa wanangoja four months hakuna,” the Head of State noted.

As opposition leaders continue to question the government’s development agenda, the Head of State defended his focus on attracting private investment, saying securing investors remains a key priority of his administration.

“Niliona mwingine anauliza kazi ya Ruto ni kuenda kutafuta wawekezaji. That is my job number one, kuhakikisha kuna wawekezaji wanakuja hapa Kenya. In Kenya we have doubled our foreign direct investment."

President Ruto has also promised to clear debts owed to sugarcane and coffee farmers by the end of the year.

Sugarcane farmers are expected to receive their bonus payments next month.