Fact checking President Ruto's State of the Nation Address

President Ruto underscored various milestones in food production, one of his administration's key agendas.

While some of the figures he cited aligned with official data, others were inconsistent when compared to the 2024 Economic Survey Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the official government data source. Here's a fact check of his claims:

Milk Production

• President Ruto's Claim: Production increased from 4.8 billion litres in 2022 to 7.2 billion litres in 2023.
• KNBS: Production stood at 4.6 billion litres in 2022 and 4.56 billion litres in 2023.
• Verdict: Inconsistent

Coffee Production

• Claim: Coffee production in 2023 was 48,000 metric tonnes.
• KNBS Data: Recorded production was 48,700 metric tonnes.
• Verdict: Consistent
• Claim: The country is on track to increase coffee exports.
• KNBS Data: Production declined from 51,900 metric tonnes in 2022 to 48,700 metric tonnes in 2023.
• Fact: Coffee production is on a decline.
• Verdict: Inconsistent

Sugar Production

• Claim: July 2024 production reached 84,000 metric tonnes.
• Sugar Directorate Data: Production was 84,042 metric tonnes.
• Verdict: Consistent
• Claim: July 2024 sugar production surpassed the national monthly demand of 40,000 metric tonnes.
• Fact: Sugar sales in July 2024 were 83,121 metric tonnes. However, the government’s annual sugar demand estimate is 1.1 million metric tonnes, averaging 91,000 metric tonnes per month.
• Verdict: Inconsistent

Maize Production

• Claim: Kenya produced 47 million 90kg bags of maize in 2023.
• KNBS Data: The country produced 47.6 million bags in 2023.
• Verdict: Consistent

Wheat Stocks

• Claim: Wheat stocks totaled 10.4 million 90kg bags.
• KNBS Data: Wheat production in 2023 was 309,500 metric tonnes, equivalent to approximately 3.4 million 90kg bags.
• Verdict: Indeterminate