President William Ruto chaired a Cabinet meeting for the second time Tuesday and agreed on a number of variables to mitigate the ongoing economic crisis.
Among the key issues agreed was to chat path for a lasting solution in the agricultural sector that is facing a threat owing to the ongoing drought across the country.
This year alone, it is estimated that around 30 million bags of maize will be harvested, falling short by 15 million of the total 45 million bags yielded annually during normal seasons.
To tackle the crisis, the Cabinet agreed to import 10 million bags come February 2023 to bridge the deficit.
“The importation by the private sector will commence in February,2023 and it shall be incentivized by way of a customs duty waiver,” reads a circular from the Cabinet meeting.
The government has already put in place a long-term solution to mitigate fertiliser crisis that has gripped farmers, owing to the ongoing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Famers from across the country will have access to fertilizer at a subsidized cost of Ksh.3,500.00 from the previous Ksh.6,500 per bag – a move that will boost food production and help bring down the overall cost of production, and with it the rising cost of living.
Ruto’s ministers also agreed to forego their one-month salary as a collective contribution towards the ongoing state interventions to support all Kenyans affected by the drought.
