Pull together to advance development agenda, Ruto urges leaders

President says accelerated growth will be achieved when leaders come together

In Summary
  • “We will continue to support Kirinyaga County to bolster its contribution to our food security efforts.”
  • Kirinyaga is the largest rice growing county in Kenya with Mwea irrigation scheme having 26,000 acres under rice grown by about 7,000 farmers.
President William Ruto with leaders from Kirinyaga county led by governor Ann Waiguru pose for a photo at State House, Nairobi on July 11, 2024.
President William Ruto with leaders from Kirinyaga county led by governor Ann Waiguru pose for a photo at State House, Nairobi on July 11, 2024.
Image: PCS

President William Ruto has called on leaders to pull together to advance the country’s development agenda.

In a statement issued after meeting leaders from Kirinyaga County led by Governor Ann Waiguru, Ruto said accelerated growth of the country will be achieved when leaders come together.

“We will continue to support Kirinyaga County to bolster its contribution to our food security efforts,” he said.

Kirinyaga is the largest rice-growing county in Kenya with the Mwea irrigation scheme having 26,000 acres under rice grown by about 7,000 farmers.

The total annual rice production in the scheme is estimated at 113,000 metric tons and there exists potential for enhanced production.

Kirinyaga is also one of the leading horticulture producers in the country. It is the leading producer of tomatoes, with an annual production of about 116,431 tons which has been steadily rising from the 46,594 tons produced in 2017.

On Wednesday, hosted leaders from Nakuru for a consultative meeting as he sought to reassure them of his support and address the aftermath of the recent Finance Bill, 2024.

The meeting held at State House, Nairobi brought together all elected leaders from the county led by Governor Susan Kihika.

Ruto said the Rironi-Mau summit road which is set to help ease traffic between Nairobi and the Western region, will be launched before the end of the year.

The revival of the Sh38 billion stalled Itare dam project was also part of the discussion during the meeting.

It is among the 100 large dams that had been prioritised for construction across the country as part of the plans to address the water problem in the country this year.

On April 20, Ruto hosted Bungoma leaders for a breakfast meeting at State House.

The delegation was led by Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula. They discussed issues touching on development.

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