President Ruto Says Kenyans Will No Longer Receive Food Subsidies

He informed the gathered leaders at the first parliamentary group meeting since being sworn in as president while in Naivasha that his government would no longer be subsidizing necessities like food.

The president criticized the subsidy program, pointing out that the Kenya Kwanza Alliance will increase food production by investing billions of shillings in both large- and small-scale farming.

“The unga subsidy that was done I was being briefed by the Agriculture Ministry, the taxpayer was asked to give Ksh. 7 billion for one month, the Ksh 100 packet which was nowhere in the first place,” he explained.

“If we had spent Ksh. 7 billion in fertilizer, it would have been a very different programme.” he added.

President Ruto stated that the emphasis would stay on output after announcing on the day of his inauguration that the government had purchased 1.4 million bags of fertilizer that would sell for $3,500.

In addition to kicking off the two-day Parliamentary Group Meeting for Kenya Kwanza MPs, he also unveiled a complex plan that he claims will solve insecurity, housing, corruption, and universal healthcare.

“In matters to do with wastage of public resources should be dealt with firmly, decisively and in a timely manner. We expect that then fight against corruption will be scaled up and our insecure areas; cattle rustling, communal conflicts will be dealt with,” the president said.

He stated that the country's healthcare costs must be brought down to levels that are affordable for the general public.

He added that building affordable housing on a wide scale was a priority and his administration will carry out plans that were initially intended to begin in 2018 but were shelved.

Ruto, who was joined by his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, and Musalia Mudavadi, among others.