Kenya to import duty-free yellow maize, President Ruto says

President William Ruto has announced plans by the state to import duty-free yellow maize in a bid to alleviate the high cost of living.

Speaking on Friday during the United Democratic Alliance's (UDA) National Governing Council held at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi, President Ruto noted that the state, through the Treasury, has already allocated cash for the said venture but did not give further specifics of the deal.

"Sehemu ingine tumekubaliana katika budget tumepitisha ya kwamba tutakuwa tunaagiza yellow maize duty free na tumekubaliana na wizara ya kwamba tunataka kupunguza gharama ya chakula ya mifugo yetu," Ruto said.

While noting that he endorsed the slashing of fertiliser prices nationwide to cushion Kenyans from the high cost of living, Ruto added that plans are also underway to cut the prices of farming inputs like seeds.

"Tumesema njia ya kwanza ya kuhakikisha kwamba tunapunguza gharama ya maisha ni kwenda kutafta namna ya kumsaidia mkulima azalishe chakula zaidi na ndio sababu tumepunguza gharama ya mbolea," he said.

"Bali na kupunguza gharama ya mbolea saa hizi tunashugulikia gharama za mbegu zingine so that we can begin the journey to reduce the cost of living because it is the pragmatic way kupunguza gharama ya maisha."