Kenya’s President William Ruto has asked Kenyans to be patient as the Kenya Kwanza government works to bring down the cost of maize floor.
Speaking to journalists at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday, January 4, the Head of State admitted that the cost of living was frustrating Kenyans.
He however said Kenyans should know that the cost of maize floor has gone down in the few months he has been in office as compared to what his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta left.
“A packet of a 2-kg bag of maize flour costs Sh190 today compared to Sh230 a few months ago,” President Ruto said.
Ruto without mentioning names suggested that had Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party presidential candidate Raila Odinga won the August 9, elections, the current price of unga would be more than KSh 300.
“If the election had gone differently, unga would probably be KSh 300 at this time,” the president said.
President Ruto further defended his decision to end food subsidies which had been initiated by ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta saying the plan was not benefiting the vulnerable.
Ruto claimed that President Uhuru’s subsidies plan to subsidize food and fuel was politically motivated to benefit a few middlemen.
“The decision to set the subsidies was politically motivated. It was a decision to try to find votes. It was not an economic decision. As the leader of the country, I must tell Kenyans the truth. The subsidy benefited other middlemen,” he said.
Ruto, however, promised to deal with the high cost of unga conclusively adding that it is only through production that the country can arrest high food prices.
“I told Kenyans that for us to deal conclusively with the high cost of living, we have to significantly improve our food production,” Ruto said.