Ruto announces seed subsidy plan, Bungoma Level Six hospital

President William Ruto has announced that the government will begin subsidising seeds from the next financial year as part of efforts to boost agricultural production, lower farming costs and enhance food security.

The President said the move will complement the ongoing fertiliser subsidy programme aimed at reducing the cost of production for farmers.

“We are planning to subsidise seeds, just like we have been doing with fertilisers, to reduce the cost of production for farmers,” he said.

Speaking at State House Nairobi on Saturday during a meeting with church leaders from Bungoma County, President Ruto said the government remains committed to lowering production costs and increasing agricultural yields.

At the same time, the President announced plans to establish a Level Six hospital in Bungoma County to bring specialised healthcare services closer to residents and reduce pressure on the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

He added that the ongoing rehabilitation of Kakamega Level Six Hospital will also help improve healthcare services in the Western region.

On infrastructure, President Ruto announced plans to construct an airport at Matulo in Bungoma County, complete with a terminal building and an expanded runway.

“We will also be extending the runway terminal for Matulo Airport in Bungoma if we get additional land. Already, the ongoing expansion of the Kakamega Airport runway is 70 per cent done,” he explained.

The Head of State urged church leaders to support the government’s transformation agenda, saying they should help wananchi understand that national transformation is possible through the implementation of the right policies.

Highlighting achievements made over the last three years, President Ruto said the government had stabilised the economy and steered the country away from the brink of debt default.

“When I took over the leadership of this country in 2022, the state of the economy was strained because of huge debts. But we managed to meet our debt obligations because of discipline and strategic planning,” he said.

The President noted that reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA) had increased the number of registered members to 31 million, up from seven million under the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

In agriculture, he attributed improved production and productivity to consistent rainfall over the past three years, provision of subsidised farm inputs and reforms within the sector.

President Ruto also praised the growth in national savings through the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), saying reforms introduced in 2023 had significantly boosted contributions.

“For nearly 60 years, employees and employers saved Ksh,312 billion. But from 2023 when we changed the saving structure, we have more than doubled what we had saved in 60 years. In February 2026, savings at NSSF stood Ksh.700 billion,” he disclosed.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, who attended the meeting, commended the government’s development agenda, citing projects such as the revival of Mumias and Nzoia sugar factories.

He also said the proposed hydro-electric power station in Bungoma is expected to generate more than 45 megawatts of electricity to support the national grid.

Wetang’ula further thanked President Ruto for directing that the Kisumu-Malaba section of the Standard Gauge Railway pass through Mianga in Bungoma County.

He urged church leaders to mobilise residents of Bungoma and the wider Western region to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka also defended the government’s development record, highlighting ongoing investments in infrastructure, healthcare and economic empowerment projects across the county.