Deputy President William Ruto has directed Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and his Agriculture counterpart Mwangi Kiujuri to fast-track the process of importing subsidized fertilizer to benefit farmers during this years' planting season.
Speaking in Chuiyat, Kesses constituency on Friday during the burial of Mzee Chomber Yator who served in retired president Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi's presidential escorts Ruto said currently the government has only 1 million bags of subsidised fertilizers.
"Because we now have only 1 million bags of subsidized fertilizer the two ministries should fast-track the process of purchasing the additional 2 million bags," said the DP.
DP Ruto's sentiments are contrary to CS Kiunjuri's admission before a parliamentary committee on Agriculture that farmers will have to purchase the fertilizers from traders this season as the government did not import the subsidized one following procurement challenges.
The MoU facilitated by billionaire businessman Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich has however caused a storm among politicians in the area, with some accusing the former gubernatorial candidate of using farmers' plight for political gain.
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