Ruto: This Is My Plan To Strengthen The Kenyan Shilling

On Sunday during a media roundtable interview, President  William Ruto said his administration has laid out three different ways that it seeks to strengthen the Kenyan shilling which has been losing to the dollar in recent months. the head of state said some of the measures that have been put in place include imposing levy on the importation of some products like cement steel and furniture.

“We have put a levy on the import of these unnecessary imports of products into Kenya. So that we can stem the export of our foreign currency and manufacture those items locally," he stated.

On why the shilling is now wobbling the head of state said this stems from the Government not paying close attention to the agriculture sector revealing that  Kenya was importing Sh500 billion worth of food commodities every year. 

"We are the only country that imports that much food. Why? Because we haven't paid as much attention to agriculture," said Ruto.

Ruto says his government is focused on improving the agriculture sector insisting he will do whatever it takes to change the trajectory of the country’s staple food.  Ruto said today the country is producing more in terms of maize, adding that he plans that by next year, Kenya shouldn't be importing maize but rather it should be producing enough.

The President took pride in the realization of his manifesto saying  Kenya increased its production of maize by 40 percent this year.

President Ruto also stated that to address the weakening shilling, his administration has focused on employment noting that his government seeks to get foreign exchange into Kenya by connecting Kenyans to opportunities abroad.

"I'm working to ensure more Kenyans are working for foreign countries while in Kenya and ensuring that we connect more Kenyans to jobs abroad," Ruto stated.

"I have signed bilateral labour agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Germany, and Canada and 10,000 Kenyans will be leaving in January to go and work abroad to support their families and Kenya," Said Ruto