Ruto to critics: I will not be intimidated by your attacks

President William Ruto has vowed to silence the opposition, which is gaining traction in the Mt Kenya region, through systematic delivery of development and preaching unity across the country.

While dismissing the opposition as clueless and disorganised, President Ruto said he cannot be intimidated by the political rhetoric of his opponents.

Speaking on Saturday during the 10th annual Meru Dairy Farmers Field Day hosted by Meru Dairy Farmers Cooperative, Dr Ruto said his administration had delivered part of his pledge to Kenyans in the areas of agriculture, education, health, and job creation.

The President was accompanied by his deputy Kithure Kindiki, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma and a section of legislators.

President Ruto spoke even as former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who is in his second day tour of Meru, was in nearby Maua town tearing down the Kenya Kwanza administration for failing to deliver on its manifesto.

"I have been in politics for too long to be intimidated by political noise. I cannot abandon the work I was elected to do to join them in politicking.  The opposition has no plan and in no time will be drawn into their shenanigans,” he said.

The Head of State said the Meru people, majority of whom voted for him, should not abandon the very government that should be serving them.

Mr Ruto, who delivered several goodies to dairy farmers in the region, said he was well prepared to face his rivals in the 2027 campaigns.

“I have maintained that I will work with those willing to work with me. Those who are not ready are free to go to the streets to do politics. They can’t be better experts than me. The little propaganda and ‘Ruto Must go’ slogans cannot shake me,” President Ruto said.

Read: Ruto: Critics can make noise, I have work to do

In a veiled swipe at his former deputy president, Dr Ruto praised Prof Kithure Kindiki as a principal assistant who understands his assignment.

“At least for the first time, I have a deputy who is helping me in doing my work. He is not like another person who focuses on empty rhetoric,” he said. 

Prof Kindiki fought back attacks by Mr Gachagua.

“Kenya deserves a superior conversation on who has the most realistic ideas for taking our nation forward. Those whose only message is the chants about who will be in office for how long, or who speaks with what kind of voice, will be swept away by the torrential downpour of an increasingly smarter, enlightened and no-nonsense public who can no longer buy delusion from political  dimwits, fakes, cons and counterfeits. The arrogance and spite will end; it is only a matter of time,” he said. 

The President pledged to implement several policy measures to cut the cost of milk production, lower the cost of sexed semen and access to vaccines.

According to the President, farmers will buy sexed semen at Sh1,000 down from the current price of Sh5,000, starting 1st July this year. 

In June last year, Dr Ruto announced a subsidy lowering the cost of sexed semen from Sh8,000 to Sh2,900 but farmers lamented paying much more.
President Ruto said his administration was keen on lowering the cost of production in all aspects of agriculture.

On top of Sh100 million allocated by the government last year, Dr Ruto pledged an additional Sh100 million for the construction of a Sh400 million animal feed mill in Meru.

“As a government, we are aware that animal feed takes up 60 per cent of the cost of milk production. This is why my administration has committed to support the Meru Dairy in setting up a feed mill. This will ensure we significantly cut the cost of animal feeds and put more money in the farmers’ pockets,” he said.

He said the government will also allow animal feed processors to import yellow maize tax free to make feeds more affordable.

To reduce milk wastage, President Ruto said the government is distributing 60 milk coolers across Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Kirinyaga counties.

Read: ‘I’m a man on a mission’: Ruto hits back at critics

“To support farmers in preventing animal diseases, we are launching a nationwide vaccination drive next week. All these efforts are meant to address the challenges facing dairy farmers across the country,” he said.

The Meru Dairy Cooperative Union, one of the leading milk processors in the country, brings together about 70,000 farmers who deliver about 615,000 litres of milk dairy.

The milk processor pays up to Sh1 billion to dairy farmers every month.

President Ruto said dairy farmers in the country are now earning Sh59 billion from milk up from Sh40 billion in 2022. 

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