President William Ruto has defended his administration’s production-first Policies saying he is prioritizing Kenya’s long-term prosperity over seeking short-term political supremacy.
He explained that his policies are designed to offer permanent solutions for the country’s future and not just election-winning schemes.
Speaking to the formal launch of the 2025 Mombasa A.S.K. International Show, Ruto said his government is leading structural transformation to propel economic resilience and place agriculture at the center of the transformation.
“Nowhere is this more evident than in our approach to agriculture, the backbone of our economy and the livelihood of millions of Kenyans,” he said.
The President rationalized his action to realign his priorities from consumption to production, referring to it as a hard but good change.
“I made the tough but correct choice to subsidise production rather than the convenient yet shortsighted path of subsidising consumption,” he asserted. “The results are visible and measurable: stronger food security, higher farmer incomes, and renewed investor confidence.”
To proceed and scale up expansion, Ruto added that the government is working with the private sector to introduce extensive irrigation programmes in Galana-Kulalu, Bura, and the Tana Delta.
“These projects focus on maize, rice, sugar, cotton, and other cash crops, firmly positioning Kenya on the path of sustained agricultural growth and national prosperity,” he continued.
He reiterated that agriculture remains a pillar of his Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), an agenda that seeks to empower grassroot communities and drive inclusive economic growth. Recognizing that it is the industry that employs the largest number of Kenyans, especially in rural Kenya, Ruto said his government has made significant investments in programs aimed at boosting productivity and farmer incomes.
Among the steps are opening access to subsidized fertilizer and other improved agricultural inputs, which Ruto said have already increased farm output and lowered the price of food.
