Weeks after three Rift Valley MPs triggered a political storm after publicly claiming Deputy President William Ruto has a 500,000-acre farm in the Republic of Congo, the deputy president has gone on a tour to the Rome to pursue avenues of collaboration in areas of agriculture, trade; explore new markets for Kenya in coffee, tea, leather industries; gain insights on best practices in leveraging agro processing, value addition, especially in dairy sector to achieve food security.
In Rome, Italy to pursue avenues of collaboration in areas of agriculture, trade; explore new markets for Kenya in coffee, tea, leather industries; gain insights on best practices in leveraging agro processing, value addition, especially in dairy sector to achieve food security. pic.twitter.com/OinoXU4ck1
— William Samoei Ruto (@WilliamsRuto) December 2, 2018
The DP had travelled to Brazzaville in September this year with a large delegation and held talks with the country’s top leaders in a tour that was aimed at promoting cooperation between the two countries in various fields of interest including to cooperate in political consultations, economics, trade and investment, agriculture, science and technology, culture and arts.
During bilateral talks with Italy Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio in Rome. pic.twitter.com/l5hpmE6B4b
— William Samoei Ruto (@WilliamsRuto) December 3, 2018
The Deputy President has been spotted in Rome, Italy, touring daily farms and speaking to Italians about their farming business days after he urged disgruntled Kenya farmers to learn how to diversify instead of lamenting. The DP is understood to be in Rome to increase trade and Forster good relations between Kenya and Italy.
The hullabaloo that has been generated by the recent introduction of VAT on processed liquid milk products in Kenya is an indication of the importance of the dairy sector to Kenya’s economy.
It is difficult to imagine how the other three President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four’ agenda pillars on manufacturing, affordable housing and universal health coverage could ever be achieved without food for all.
Deputy President William Ruto has previously said Kenya has developed the necessary policies to support a proper framework to increase food production in the country.