Ruto: We're prioritising long-term gains over election wins

President William Ruto hands over a trophy during the official opening of the 2025 Mombasa A.S.K. International Show in Mombasa County/PCS

President William Ruto has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to long-term national prosperity over short-term political gains.

Ruto said the government's policies are designed to build lasting solutions for Kenya’s future rather than simply winning the next election.

Speaking during the official opening of the 2025 Mombasa A.S.K. International Show in Mombasa County, the President said his government is focused on structural reforms aimed at economic sustainability—with agriculture at the heart of this transformation.

“Nowhere is this more evident than in our approach to agriculture, the backbone of our economy and the livelihood of millions of Kenyans,” Ruto said.

He defended his administration’s decision to  production rather than consumption, calling it a tough but necessary move.

“I made the tough but correct choice to subsidise production rather than the convenient yet shortsighted path of subsidising consumption,” he said.

“The results are visible and measurable: stronger food security, higher farmer incomes, and renewed investor confidence.”

To sustain and accelerate the progress in the sector, Ruto announced that the government is partnering with the private sector to implement large-scale irrigation projects in Galana-Kulalu, Bura, and the Tana Delta.

“These projects focus on maize, rice, sugar, cotton, and other cash crops, firmly positioning Kenya on the path of sustained agricultural growth and national prosperity,” he added.

Agriculture continues to be a cornerstone of President Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), a blueprint aimed at empowering grassroots communities and stimulating inclusive economic growth.

Recognising that the sector employs a majority of Kenyans, particularly in rural areas, the Ruto administration has invested heavily in measures to boost productivity and farmer incomes.

These include expanding access to subsidised fertiliser and modern farming inputs, which the president said have already led to increased crop yields and lower food prices.

The president's remarks come at a time when food security, climate resilience, and rural employment are key concerns for millions of Kenyans.