- President William Ruto announced in March Italy had agreed to withdraw the arbitration cases against the three dams.
- Earlier on, Gachagua called for a review of the global funding system so that it favours African countries.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the Italian government to fast-track the resumption of stalled Arror and Kimwarer dam projects in Elgeiyo Marakwet.
Speaking during a luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for leaders from the Horn of Africa, Gachagua highlighted the significance of the projects in the country saying it is crucial to food security.
The DP who is in Rome for UN Food Systems Summit regretted that the projects had stalled as a result of politics.
During a visit by Italian President Sergio Mattarela to Kenya in March, the two countries agreed to have the projects resume.
It was suspended in September 2019 over graft allegations.
President William Ruto announced after the meeting that Italy had agreed to withdraw the arbitration cases against the three dams.
"I am proud to announce that the three dams which were subjected to court cases and court matters, we should be able to go on with the construction of these three dams in a few months," Ruto said.
He further explained that Kenya and Italy have agreed on a framework to settle all the outstanding court cases and matters surrounding the two dams including Itare in Nakuru.
Image: DPCS
Earlier on, Gachagua called for a review of the global funding system so that it favours African countries.
Speaking at the UN Food Systems Summit, Gachagua said as currently structured, the international funding model is not inclusive enough and particularly in the agriculture sector.
“The present financial architecture has been very disadvantageous to the African continent which faces huge challenges. The continent needs to be looked at differently,” he said.
The DP, who is representing President William Ruto at the high-level Summit comprising Heads of State and Government, said with better financing and an inclusive system, African countries will cope better.
‘’We have just come out of the worst drought in 40 years after five subsequent failed rain seasons, we are calling upon the world and all our partners to look at the issues of the African continent from a different perspective and apply a very aggressive way of putting funds aside to enable the continent to produce enough food and have surplus for export,” Gachagua observed.
Kenya, he said, was working closely with partners to improve food production amid the emerging challenges, including the recent prolonged drought, pressing for reconsideration of financial support for the continent.
"We are in partnership with global partners to enhance food production. But there must be a different financial architecture for African countries,’’ he emphasized.
At the Summit, Gachagua said the Ruto administration is implementing turnaround strategies in various sub-sectors, especially those that will impact the people at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
He pointed out that the Hustler Fund is accessible to millions of people who are contributing to the growth of the agricultural sector.
"As an administration, we have changed the entire strategy in financing food systems by putting more money at the bottom of the economic pyramid where most of the food is produced. We have rolled out the Hustler Fund for the access of the majority of the people in the food production chain," he said.
To enhance production, the DP added that the Government has invested over Sh50 billion to boost various interventions in the sector top of it the distribution of subsidized fertilisers to increase food production.