- IN BRIEF: President William Ruto’s announcement to double the funds allocated to tertiary institutions and his government’s commitment to increasing farmers’ earnings and creating economic opportunities for all Kenyans are positive steps towards improving the lives of Kenyans. The President’s emphasis on making agriculture commercial and sustainable is also a step in the right direction towards breaking the poverty cycle associated with farming.
During his visit to Laare, Meru County, President William Ruto announced his plans to double the funds allocated to tertiary institutions. He explained that this move would help improve the quality of education provided by these institutions. The President also mentioned that a new and comprehensive funding mechanism would be introduced from May.
In addition to this, President Ruto expressed the government’s commitment to increasing farmers’ earnings and creating economic opportunities for all Kenyans. He noted that a new regulation had been put in place to reduce Miraa levies, which would boost earnings for Miraa farmers. The President also stated that this regulation had unlocked a market in Somalia for the product following negotiations with the government.
During the launch of the tarmacking of the Kaelo-Kamukunji-Mutuati Road, which is expected to be completed by December this year, President Ruto was accompanied by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, Meru Governor Bishop Kawira Mwangaza, and Members of Parliament led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah.
Later in Buuri Constituency, President Ruto commissioned the Kiirua Buuri Irrigation Development Project, which he said would benefit more than 5,000 farmers in the area. He explained that this project would improve food and nutrition security and enhance farm income to Ksh. 400 million a year. The President also emphasized the government’s commitment to shifting from rain-dependent agriculture to irrigation-fed agriculture to make farming commercial and sustainable, thus breaking the poverty cycle associated with farming.
In his speech, President Ruto also stated that he would not participate in any exercise meant to further the interests of politicians, arguing that it was not fair for leaders to continue pushing for their interests at the expense of the people, six months after the elections. Governor Mwangaza expressed her commitment to working with the national government to transform the lives of the people of Meru, while Kikuyu MP Ichungw’ah said that legislators had heeded the President’s directive to engage in dialogue within the confines of the law.
