William Ruto pledges to revive Mumias Sugar, decries high cost of living

Kenya Kwanza team led by their presidential candidate William Ruto address a rally at Bomani grounds in Mumias on June 17, 2022. [Benjamin Sakwa,  Standard]

Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto has said he will ensure that the ailing Mumias Sugar Company is revived if he wins the August 9 election.

Dr Ruto also blamed President Uhuru Kenyatta and his handshake partner, Raila Odinga, for the hard economic times Kenyans are facing, saying they abandoned the Big Four Agenda that formed the manifesto for Jubilee’s re-election campaign.

“We don’t want leaders whose only agenda is to change the Constitution rather than helping revive factories like Mumias and Nzoia Sugar,” he said in Bomani grounds in Mumias, Kakamega County.

“Today, the prices of flour, sugar, cooking oil and even salt have gone up. If you elect me, I’ll look into the prices of these products. I’ll also ensure that fertilizer prices go down to Sh2,500 from Sh6,000.” said Ruto.

He further censured the plan to phase out the mitumba industry and the closure of Keroche Breweries.

The DP promised that his government will allocate Sh50 billion for the microfinance sector to enable women access loans for table banking and Sh100 billion to enable creation of employment. 

“We have youths whose problem is unemployment we will ensure that they get jobs in the government we will form,” said Ruto

The DP also addressed a campaign rally at Kidundu stadium in Vihiga County, in the company of Kenya Kwanza co-principals Musalia Mudavadi of ANC and Moses Wetangula of Ford-K.

Mudavadi said a Kenya Kwanza government would bring down the cost of livingby addressing the needs of the ordinary citizens.

“We are tired of the high cost of living in the country.  The cause is Raila Odinga and his handshake partner President Uhuru Kenyatta. They will go come come the August elections,” he said.