The Government is working to lower food prices and bring relief to millions of Kenyans.
This will be achieved by implementing initiatives to increase food production.
Speaking at Karigu-ini primary school grounds, in Muranga County, during an interdenominational prayer service, President William Ruto asked county governments to pick up the subsidized fertilizer from NCPB depots and distribute to wards and villages to save farmers high transport costs.
The President revealed plans to plant 5billion trees and construct 100 dams across the country to harvest water for irrigation to help attain food security and combat desertification.
“This is the way to alleviate the effects of climate change, end frequent droughts and ensure that rivers don’t dry up. If we don’t do this the situation will get worse,” said Dr Ruto.
The President said the young people previously engaged in the Kazi kwa Vijana programme would be tasked to plant the 10 billion trees that the Government wants planted in 10 years.
Further, the President said housing projects will consolidate residential areas protecting agricultural land from haphazard construction.
He revealed a project to build 2,000 houses in Murang’a County will begin next week.
Present were Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet Secretaries Prof Njuguna Ndung’u (Finance), Alice Wahome (Water), Penina Malonza ( Tourism), National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa and more than 40 MPs.
The Head of State assured all Kenyans that the Government will serve them without discrimination.
“The people of Mt Kenya have set a new record by breaking the yoke of ethnic politics. In so doing, they made the country proud. The people of Kenya, too, set a record by voting and keeping the peace,” said Dr Ruto.
The Deputy President on his part said the President was committed to addressing the high cost of living along Kenyans, noting that the reduction of fertiliser prices were part of efforts to attain lasting solution to high cost of living.
He termed claims by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, that he won’t be coerced to join the Government, as unwarranted.
‘No one has asked him to join our Government. His job and those in the Opposition is to keep the Government accountable,” said Mr Gachagua.
He assured that the Government would respect places of worship.
