Wamuzi News Ke
President William Ruto has outlined four critical issues for the newly appointed Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, Mutahi Kagwe, to address, with a particular focus on the urgent matter of livestock vaccination.
Speaking on Friday, January 17, during the swearing-in ceremony of three new Cabinet Secretaries—Mutahi Kagwe, William Kabogo, and Lee Kinyanjui—Ruto highlighted the need for Kagwe to strengthen the agriculture sector.
Reflecting on his own tenure as Agriculture Minister, Ruto underscored the pressing need to resolve the ongoing challenges surrounding the tea industry in Mombasa.
Just a day earlier, the Kenya Tea Development Agency had criticized the agriculture ministry for allegedly meddling with the management of smallholder tea factories, leading to unstable prices at the Mombasa tea auction.
Ruto informed Kagwe, “We have tea stuck in Mombasa. I had a conversation with your team yesterday, and we need to identify the root causes of this backlog.”
On crop health, the President revealed that the government had secured subsidized fertilizer but emphasized the importance of ensuring that small-scale farmers receive the correct type of fertilizer for their crops.
“The fertilizer is ready, and I’m counting on your leadership to ensure it gets to every farmer without any hindrance, providing the right fertilizers to support their crops,” Ruto added.
Ruto also spoke about Kenya’s agricultural export potential, referencing a recent economic partnership agreement with the UAE. He emphasized the importance of expanding markets for Kenya’s dairy and agricultural products, noting that trade between the two nations has reached nearly KSh370 billion.
He challenged the new CS to elevate the quality standards of agricultural goods in Kenya, as this would improve the country’s international reputation and boost export opportunities.
In his final remarks, Ruto praised Kagwe’s previous success as Health CS, particularly his leadership in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. He tasked Kagwe with using his influence to encourage farmers to take part in the government’s voluntary livestock vaccination program.
“You have proven your ability to persuade people before,” Ruto said. “This vaccination is voluntary, and no one will be forced to participate, but I believe you can lead this effort effectively.”
