President William Ruto on Thursday stole the show at the Mombasa International Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) event after buying a bull for Sh1 million.
The Chianina breed, imported from South Africa, was the highlight of the livestock auction.
The three-year-old bull weighs 885 kilograms and had attracted competitive bidding from top leaders present.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi kicked off the contest with a Sh300,000 offer before Ruto pushed it to Sh400,000.
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir then raised the bid to Sh500,000, with Kingi topping it at Sh550,000.
Abdullswamad then countered with Sh600,000, prompting Ruto to place a Sh700,000 bid.
When the auctioneer noticed the bidding had stalled, he cheekily urged the dignitaries to join forces and gift the President.
“Naona waheshimiwa wakijadiliana…mnaweza hata changa changa mkazawadi rais kitu ya kutoka Mombasa,” he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Ruto, Kingi, Abdullswamad, Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke and Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya conversed briefly, after which Mvurya announced they had raised the bid to Sh1 million, securing the prized bull for the Head of State.
The Chianina, white in colour, is one of the oldest breeds of cattle, raised mainly for beef.
It originates from Italy.
Earlier, Ruto had bid Sh200,000 for a Santa Gertrudis bull weighing 679kg, which was later bought by CS Mvurya for Sh350,000.
Governor Abdullswamad also acquired a 775kg Boran bull for Sh500,000, while a Mombasa businessman paid Sh300,000 for a Charolaise breed weighing 527kg.
Ruto later officially opened the annual Mombasa ASK Show, where he praised livestock farmers for embracing modern breeding techniques and pledged continued government support for the sector.
