By PSCU
President Uhuru Kenyatta today opened a Sh125 million animal resource centre at Sotik to boost livestock production as he campaigned to consolidate Jubilee’s support in Bomet County.
The Liquid Nitrogen plant set up by the national Government, through the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre, produces 50 litres of the key ingredient for preservation of livestock semen used in artificial insemination. The animal resource centre, which serves 16 counties, including Kericho, Kisii and Migori also operates as a semen bank.
Speaking at the event, President Kenyatta said his administration recognised agriculture as one of the key sectors of the economy and will continue to invest heavily in it.
The President, who was accompanied by Deputy President William Ruto, pointed out that the new liquid nitrogen plant will ensure that farmers from the region can easily improve their livestock breeds at an affordable price.
“We are implementing all these initiatives because we want to improve production and lift the lives of farmers,” President Kenyatta said.
President Kenyatta said the opening of the liquid nitrogen plant in Sotik heralds a new income-generating opportunity for the youth where they can use motorcycles to supply AI products to farmers.
“As Jubilee, we believe in empowering people by providing opportunities to create wealth and lift the lives of all Kenyans. But our opponents believe to alleviate poverty they have to deny others opportunities,” President Kenyatta said.
He added: “That is why we have been saying that the difference between Jubilee and the opposition is like day and night.”
He highlighted steps taken to boost crop and livestock production including reviving factories that had collapsed, citing the recent opening of new ultramodern milk factory in Eldoret revived by his administration at a cost of Sh500 million.
President Kenyatta said Sh80 million has been factored in the budget to upgrade the Kenya Cooperative Creameries factory at Sotik to provide market for dairy farmers.
Other measures include the subsidizing of fertilizer to cost Kshs 1800 down from Sh6,000 per bag. President has also pledged to reduce the price of a bag of fertiliser to Sh1200 by December.
The President called on residents of Bomet County to come out in large numbers and vote for Jubilee in August so that the ongoing transformational projects are not derailed.
Deputy President Ruto asked voters in Bomet to reject Governor Isaac Ruto and elect Jubilee candidates in all the elective seats because they were keen on service delivery.
“It is time we elect leaders who are committed to service delivery and not those who engage in rhetoric round the clock,” said the Deputy President.
He said Joyce Laboso, the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, has the capacity to transform the lives of Bomet residents if they give her the opportunity to serve them as governor.
The Deputy President spoke on the Jubilee administration’s improvement of the health sector in the county, pointing out the upgrading and equipping of the Longisa and Ndanai health facilities to the status of referral hospitals that has boosted provision of crucial medical services to the residents.
“The establishments of the two hospitals will relieve residents here the burden of travelling to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret to seek crucial services like MRI, radiology and dialysis among other services,” said the Deputy President said.
From Sotik, President Kenyatta and his deputy headed to Mogogosiek through Tenwek and they were due to address a major rally in Bomet town before wrapping up their of the county.