[Deputy President William Ruto with Governors Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu) and Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet) at the Eldoret New KCC on March 17, 2017]
Deputy president William Ruto has reiterated National government's commitment to supporting the New Kenya Cooperatives Creameries (KCC).
Speaking at the Eldoret New KCC when he presided over the issuance of cheques to farmers who owed the company, Ruto said the government is in the process of putting in place mechanisms that will benefit dairy farmers across the country.
He announced the company had already received Sh700 million that would be used to facilitate milk prices stabilisation.A further Sh500 million will be allocated to the company in the coming finacial year.“We don't want when supply of milk is high prices go down. We want constant milk prices the whole year,” said Ruto, Friday.He further said the funds would enable the New KCC pay farmers who supply them with milk promptly, to reduce milk hawking.“Currently 60 per cent of milk is sold by hawkers and middlemen due to financial challenges dairy farmers face and this is why as a government we want New KCC to be able to pay farmers promptly. If a farmer wants to be paid after a week, two weeks or a month, the company should be able to do that,” Ruto said.