Deputy President Kithure Kindiki inspects a project in Kirinyaga/DPCSDeputy President Kithure Kindiki has pledged Sh1 billion to the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to buy locally produced rice before the government allows imports into the country.
Kindiki said the move is aimed at protecting farmers from depressed prices while building national food reserves through the purchase of rice grown in Mwea and other rice-producing areas.
“We will not import rice until we offload all the rice grown in Mwea, in Kirinyaga County, and all the rice-growing areas. We will not allow importation of rice before we buy all the rice in the country,” Kindiki said.
Speaking Friday during an inspection of development projects in Mwea Constituency, Kirinyaga County, the Deputy President said the Sh1 billion would enable KNTC to mop up locally produced cereals when harvesting begins later this year.
“The government will ensure all rice produced by our farmers at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme will be bought by KNTC to boost national food reserves before rice is imported into the country,” he said.
Kindiki said the government would continue implementing policies intended to improve returns for farmers, including producers of coffee, milk and tea.
The Deputy President also inspected the ongoing tarmacking of the Kangirici-Karira Hospital-Ngurubani Road, which is nearing completion.
The road forms part of a 65-kilometre transport corridor serving Kirinyaga Central, Ndia and Mwea constituencies.
Kindiki said Kirinyaga County had been allocated Sh37 billion for the construction of 500 kilometres of roads, with various projects at different stages of implementation.
He also officially opened the Mwea Huduma Centre, which will provide residents with access to government services.
The facility will also host a Jitume ICT Hub where young people can acquire digital skills and seek opportunities in the digital economy.
“Our interest is to ensure the people of Mwea get development projects like every part of the country. We will make sure all ongoing projects are completed as we start others,” Kindiki said.
Other projects in the county include the Sh500 million County Aggregation and Industrial Park, whose cost is being shared by the national and county governments.
Kindiki also pledged an additional Sh300 million to expand electricity connections to more residents in Mwea Constituency.
The planned expansion of the Makutano-Mwea-Embu-Chuka-Meru-Maua highway is also expected to improve transport links in the region.
Turning to politics, Kindiki said the government would seek to defend its record through development rather than verbal exchanges with its opponents.
“I will not engage in trading insults because I know I will lose, but I can assure you no one will defeat me in a contest over development,” he said.
He challenged the opposition to account for its record in government instead of focusing on name-calling.
“I am asking our opponents to also be ready to tell Kenyans what they did when they were in power because most of them have occupied powerful offices before. Before they christen names like Kasongo or Soprano, first tell us what you have done for the people,” Kindiki said.
Mwea MP Mary Maingi thanked the government for prioritising development projects in the constituency.
“We have pushed for construction of Kangirici-Karira Hospital-Ngurubani Road and Karira Bridge for years.
Previous leaders promised to construct this road but failed to do so. But now the road and the bridge are being constructed,” she said.
