Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on leaders to focus on improving the welfare of Kenyans instead of politicising every issue.
The President noted that the politicisation of every issue was counter productive and would impede efforts to grow the economy.
“I was shocked that the politics of the sugar dominated the media for more than one month. That is not the way to go.
"If there are issues, let us discuss them and move forward instead of dwelling on one issue for too long. It will not put food on the table,” said Uhuru.
He said he is ready to meet with sugarcane farmers in western Kenya and discuss the problems faced by the sugar industry and agree on how they can be resolved.
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The President was addressing farmers in Thogoto in Kikuyu, Kiambu County yesterday after he officially launched Kenya National Farmers Federation (KENAFF) conference centre and farmers headquarters.
He called on leaders to engage with farmers with a few to resolving some of the problems that farmers face.
“There is no need to incite farmers to burn coffee. We should come together and resolve the problems, but when we burn tyres on the roads we will only destroy our roads and they will be impassible the following day and we will not have helped anyone,” added the Head of State.
He announced that the government would put 44,000 hectares of land under irrigation and reduce the cost of farm inputs to encourage more people to engage in agribusiness.
KENAFF chairman Nduati Kariuki called on the government to help the farmers export their produce.
The chairman also asked the county government to collaborate with the federation to resolve issues facing farmers.
The federation's CEO, Mr John Mutunga, urged the youth to take up farming so that they are gainfully employed.
