President William Ruto recently announced that the government has managed to reduce the prices of food commodities, attributing this accomplishment to divine intervention.
Speaking during the National Prayer Breakfast at the Safari Park hotel, he expressed gratitude to God for this development, although he acknowledged that the issue of unemployment still needs to be addressed.
This announcement comes amidst ongoing discussions regarding the proposed Finance Act 2024, which includes provisions for taxes on basic food items such as bread and milk.
The bill suggests imposing a 16 percent VAT on these products, which are currently exempt from taxation. Kenya’s mounting debt burden has prompted the government to increase taxes on various household items, including cooking gas, food, and fuel, resulting in public outcry over the rising cost of living.
Ruto also acknowledged God’s intervention in answering Kenya’s prayers for rain, highlighting a national prayer event led by First Lady Rachel Ruto on Valentine’s Day. While the reduction in food prices is welcomed news for many, the issue of unemployment remains a pressing concern that the government must continue to address.
“A few months ago we had a drought that decimated 2.5m heads of livestock. For the first time, we were trucking water for wildlife. We went to Nyayo Stadium and prayed and God gave us rains. Today we have enough food in Kenya. It is amazing what God can do,” Ruto said.
“Sometimes we may want to believe that maybe it was our doing, and maybe surely we did. Maybe we made fertilizer available, maybe we made seeds available, maybe we supported farmers, but that would have come to nothing if God had not given us rain.”
While President Ruto’s announcement about the reduction in food prices brings some relief, the situation remains dire for six counties in Northern Kenya. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa are facing an emergency food crisis.
These counties, with a combined population of nearly 5 million people, are at risk of hunger despite ongoing rainfall in other parts of the country. Additionally, the heavy rains have led to significant losses in many vulnerable areas, exacerbating the food insecurity situation.
President Ruto also emphasized the government’s commitment to investing in the ICT industry. He urged Members of Parliament to utilize the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support digital initiatives and promote technological advancements.
This underscores the importance of leveraging technology to address various challenges, including food insecurity, and fostering economic development in the country.
“We have set our target on the digital space to create jobs, I was in Ruiru, where we launched an ICT hub that is hiring 5,000 Kenyans. I was very proud to see them working. Every member of parliament has an opportunity to replicate that in every constituency in Kenya.” Ruto said in his address.
