Ruto: Plans to upgrade Kericho into a city to start after MCAs pass bill next week

President William Ruto has urged Kericho County Assembly MCAs to fast-track the passage of a bill that will pave the way for the process of upgrading the town into a city.

Ruto said failure to approve the bill had continued to slow down the process of redeveloping the town.

According to Ruto, Kericho requires an extra 800 acres for the upgrade plan.

“Nyinyi mnanichelewesha, nataka kutuma surveyors (I want to send surveyors to come here but you are delaying that process),” he said.

The head of state even said that he would be following the proceedings when the members will be debating the bill next week.

“Si nyinyi mko na hiyo network ama? Nimeambiwa ni Tuesday, so kila mtu areport kwa Assembly na nitakuwa nafuatilia,” he joked.

The county launched the legal process of compulsory acquisition of land from multinational tea firms for expansion process seven years ago.

Ruto made the remarks when he launched Chai Gold, one of the brand products of Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) at the Ketepa grounds in the county.

He at the same time announced that farmers are set to earn a record Sh70 kilo in tea bonus this year.

He noted that the interventions by the government in the sub-sector have yielded fruits and the farmers are set to reap big.

“It will be a record in Kenya that that will be happening and it is because we have said that we are focusing on agriculture,” he said.

“We are streamlining on the deliveries in the ministry, supporting the farmers and ensuring there is proper stewardship in the management of the agricultural sector."

The government, he further stated, will continue to support productivity in the tea sub-sector through the provision of subsidised fertiliser, value addition through the creation of common user facilities and also branding.

“We are going to support diversification of products into orthodox tea, we are going to support the marketing of tea through opening up of more markets and research around agriculture and tea as a mechanism to taking agriculture to the next level,” he said.

He disclosed that he will be travelling to China with KTDA officials in September to finalise an agreement on the export of Kenya tea to the country.

On the stalled construction of the airport in the county, Ruto explained that talks were ongoing to have more land allocated for the expansion of the runway.