Residents had a chance to speak out their
expectations in Ruto government.
Tuesday hosted the Bottom-Up Economic Forum in which the county residents
identified their priority economic areas of focus that they would like captured
in Kenya Kwanza’a elections manifesto.
Deputy President nominee Rigathi Gachagua brought together leaders and
participants from various economic sectors in the county.
tea, tomato, macadamia and fish farmers as well as market traders, hawkers,
boda boda operators, hospitality industry players and horticultural producers
among others.
they would like that national government to develop policies that will
streamline the agricultural sector to ensure that the farmer becomes the major
beneficiary of their produce. They complained that farmers do not get to reap
from their toil due to lack of direct market for their produce which has left
them at the mercy of middlemen.
subsidize fertilizers and pesticides in order to reduce the cost of production
of their crops and also put in place policies that will grant guaranteed
minimum returns for their produce.
The issue of allowing the importation of
cheap farm produce such as rice and tomatoes was also brought up as a factor
stifling the local agriculture. Farmers asked for policies that will protect
them against unfair bilateral trade practices.
Mwea rice farmers lamented of high cost of
rice production and demanded for the abolishment of irrigation water fee charged
by Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) which they termed as
exploitative.
They opposed the proposed increment of water charges to 15,000
per acre. “WARMA does not add any value
to rice farmers and should be outlawed and the management of irrigation water
left to the National Irrigation Board.” Said Ndung’u Ndegwa, a rice famer from
the Mwea Irrigation scheme said.
Kwanza manifesto will be comprised of the views collected from them noting that
the Bottom up economic model was about the empowerment of the bottom economic
players to enable them contribute to the overall national economic development.
the residents will be captured in a binding document to ensure that they are
implemented accordingly. He assured them that with him at the top, their
interests were well taken care of and there was no chance of being
shortchanged.
will be brought down from the current Ksh. 6,000 to Ksh. 2,000 by December 2022
if Deputy President William Ruto is elected the next president. He also promised that the Kenya Kwanza
government will resume the construction of all the stalled roads in the county
immediately it assumes office.
out in big numbers to participate in the forum adding that the Bottom up
economic model was centered on putting more money into the pockets of the
people at the bottom of the economy. He
said that Ruto’s government will set aside funds that will be loaned at 5% per
annum interest to save people from borrowing from exploitative lenders.
that her administration will continue supporting farmers through the county’s
Wezesha Kirinyaga economic empowerment program that has been funding farmers
groups to undertake various profitable agricultural activities. She said that
under the plan, farmers have been assisted to undertake poultry, tomato,
avocado, dairy and macadamia farming as well as pig rearing, bee keeping and
fish farming.
She said that her government will be
partnering with the UDA government when it takes over leadership in order to
expand the Wezesha program to accommodate every household in the county.
The County Chief promised to enable a 24-hours economy in
the county by partnering with the national government to construct modern
markets and lighting up the urban areas and streets to improve on the county’s
security and enable traders extend their operations into the night.
that Kirinyaga County was solidly behind Ruto Presidency and the county is
ready to vote in UDA candidates for all the elective posts.
included Kiharu and Starehe Members of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro and Charles
Kanyi (Jaguar) respectively, Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi,
UDA parliamentary and County Assembly candidates and Governor Waiguru’s running
mate David Githanda.
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