Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has said the poor farming season affecting parts of the North Rift has also impacted President William Ruto's maize farm, saying the Head of State is unlikely to harvest any crop this year.
Speaking during a church service at ACK St Stephen's Chepkoilel on Sunday, Murkomen said the region had experienced significant agricultural challenges, with many farmers suffering losses.
"Mr President, I would like to tell you that it is true, there are challenges in this region when it comes to farming matters, sisi wote tuliadhirika na nilipitia pia shamba yako pale na nimeona kwamba hutavuna chochote mwaka huu, wakati nilikuwa najililia nikaona hata rais ameenda harasa nikasema wengi wetu tumeenda harasa," Murkomen said.
This is translated to mean: "I passed by your farm and saw that you won't harvest anything this year. I was crying, but when I saw that even the President will suffer losses, I realised a lot of people are counting losses."
The CS said the President's experience reflected the difficulties many farmers in the region have faced this season.
Despite the poor harvest outlook, Murkomen praised the government for reducing the cost of subsidised fertiliser after President Ruto took office.
"We won't fail to thank you because when you took office, you lowered the price of fertiliser from Sh7,000 to Sh2,500. Through your leadership, our economy is doing well," he said.
The remarks come as farmers in several parts of the country grapple with difficult growing conditions that have affected crop production.
Murkomen maintained that despite the current setbacks in agriculture, the government's interventions, including cheaper fertiliser, had eased the cost of farming and contributed to improved economic conditions in the region.
