Deputy President William Ruto has fired back at Rift Valley leaders over what he termed as narrow thinking by the lot opposing calls for crop diversification.
Speaking at a funeral function in Uasin Gishu County on Friday, Ruto said that the advice on crop diversification was practical and fruitful. He further told the mourners that he would have chosen not to advise them if they would not be poised to benefit.
"When we say do diversification, we mean we should plant maize for subsistence and then plant other crops like coffee, avocado and macadamia so that you sell and get yourself cash," said DP Mr.Ruto.
He proceeded to state that, "we need policies and leadership that relies on economic empowerment. Farmers in this region can plant coffee."
He wondered why some leaders, mostly from the North Rift region were opposed to such an idea that can change lives.
He added that "you have heard, even the leaders from this region, saying avocados cannot be fed to initiates then you wonder whether they only think of 'ugali' and nothing else. My people, is your thinking programmed to stick to 'ugali'?"
Mr.Cherargei in a past function in Nandi had criticized the deputy president's position on crop diversification saying, that the community can only reap big from maize and milk, not avocados.
He joked that avocados could not be fed to initiates.
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