President William Ruto's introduction of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Joho in Sagana on Saturday was met with cheers from residents.
The President who had stopped to address residents during his development tour said he had asked Joho to camp in Sagana to streamline the fisheries sector in the county.
Upon mentioning his name, the residents broke into cheers as the President paused his address, breaking into laughter over the reception.
Ruto said that he had directed CS Joho to see to it that the production of fingerlings in Kirinyaga County grows from one million to five million fingerlings by next year.
"And I have told the new Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho who is here (cheers, as Ruto laughs) to camp here until this project is streamlined.
"We have agreed that we are increasing investment in that project and we want fingerlings to increase from one million in the short term to five million," the President said.
He noted that Sagana is known for production of fingerlings and it supplies most parts of the country.
Ruto said that despite this, there has not been a good plan in place to boost the sector.
He said that he will work with the African Development Bank to ensure there is more investment in the fingerlings production and fisheries sector in the country.
"You are well known for fingerlings. You supply most parts of Kenya with fish fingerlings but there is no good plan for it.
"I want to tell you that the government of Kenya will plan with the African Development Bank to give enough money to double the number of fingerlings you produce."
This is President Ruto's first working tour with Joho as the Maritime Affairs CS.
Joho is among the newly appointed CSs in Ruto's reconstituted Cabinet after dismissing his first one on July 11, 2024.
The President is expected to launch several development projects in Kirinyaga on Saturday.
