Kirinyaga Bottom-Up Economic Forum

Residents had a chance to speak out their expectations in Ruto government.

Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru on 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.

The forum that was presided over by UDA Deputy President nominee Rigathi Gachagua brought together leaders and participants from various economic sectors in the county.

Those represented included rice, coffee, tea, tomato, macadamia and fish farmers as well as market traders, hawkers, boda boda operators, hospitality industry players and horticultural producers among others.

Farmers from various sectors said that 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.

They also want the incoming government to 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.

Gachagua assured the residents that Kenya 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.

He said that all the views collected from 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.

He also promised that the cost of fertilizers 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.

Gachagua thanked the residents for turning 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.

Governor Anne Waiguru said 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.

She also assured the Kenya Kwanza leaders that Kirinyaga County was solidly behind Ruto Presidency and the county is ready to vote in UDA candidates for all the elective posts.

Other leaders present in the forum 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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