Sub County during his tour to drum up support for Jubilee party ahead of the August 8th polls.
Deputy President Ruto revealed that the government had put measures in place that will see a 50kgs bag of planting fertilizers sold through the National Cereals and Produce Boards (NCPB) from December this year at a more reduced price of Kshs. 1,200 from the current price of Kshs. 1,800. He said with the recent launching of the first phase of the standard gauge railway the cost of ferrying the commodity from the Kenyan coast to various selling centres had been cut and farmers across the country must benefit from the SGR project.
“Our opponents are asking of what importance is the SGR to local mwananchi here in Lugari, I want to tell them that this is the first baby step towards a direct benefit of the SGR to our people and there’s still much more to come,” said Ruto.
The Deputy President reiterated his commitment in helping farmers cut on production cost stating that when he was appointed as agriculture minister in the grand coalition government the price of fertilizer was retailing at over Kshs. 6,000 per 50kgs bag where he managed to reduce it by more than a half the price adding that when the Jubilee government took over it further brought it down from Kshs. 3,000 to Kshs. 1,800 and now they are looking for forward reduce it further to Kshs. 1,200.
Deputy President Ruto also revealed that starting next planting season farmers will get subsidized maize seed which he said will be sold at a price of Kshs. 120 per kilogram from the current price of Kshs. 180. On development, Ruto said Jubilee administration was keen on completing all development projects including tarmacking of several roads and building technical institutes in the County to ensure youths acquired skills that will help them.
He said over 300 kilometres stretch of tarmac roads will be constructed in Kakamega County alone. He dismissed opposition as one without development agenda saying
they were self-seekers and that all they can do better was to organize demonstrations.
“The opposition’s quest to share out power and political posts will not create jobs for our youth, Jubilee deserve another term to continue serving the people we have a plan to put up cottage industry in every county that will create job opportunity to over 5,000 youths
in each of the 47 counties,” he said.
DP Ruto vowed to intensify his tours of Western to ensure the region was painted red ahead of the August 8th general elections. According to him, it would be wrong for him to desert the people of Western in the arrangements to form next government. “I have struggled to bring power close home, you cannot afford to lose it by chasing unrealistic power elsewhere, “said Ruto.
The Deputy President was flanked by Mumias East MP Benjamin Njomo Washiali and Jubilee candidates from the county who included Mabel Muruli (governorship) Sternly Livondo Senatorial) Joab Kinzi (Lugari parliamentary) Stephen Kisaka (Likuyani parliamentary) among others.
However, after the rally youths turn rowdy and set ablaze Jubilee T-shirts and placards with party’s office being defaced by black paint. Several youths were arrested following the ugly incident.