President William Ruto has revisited his Koilel farm in Uasin Gishu to showcase the success of his efforts ‘five months later.’
In a statement, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said Ruto’s success was a reflection of the bumper harvest expected from farmers across the country this month.
“Maize farmers across the country are anticipating a bumper harvest during the current season, which is set to peak in August and September. This success can be attributed to the unparalleled dedication of the country’s farmers and the government’s intervention through the fertilizer subsidy program – a commitment that President Ruto both promised and fulfilled,” Mohamed stated.
Mohamed says that an estimated yield of 44 million bags is expected from the long rains season, compared to last year’s 32 million bags.
He says the improvement can be attributed to fertiliser subsidies, which have seen prices come down to Ksh2,500.
“On his first day in office, President Ruto proposed retiring the policy of subsidizing consumption in favour of subsidizing production, with a promise to reduce subsidized fertilizer prices from Ksh7,000 to Ksh3,500,” he added.
“The price has been further reduced to Ksh 2500 since the President launched the 2nd phase of the fertilizer subsidy program on August 2nd, 2023, prior to the onset of the short rain season.”
About Koilel farm
Ruto’s Koilel farm operates from 430-acre land in Sugoi.
In 2018, the farm, which operates under Koilel Farm Limited, was among 11 firms investigated by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission over controversial sales of maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). The farm was later cleared, receiving millions from NCPB for supplies.