By Hassan Wekesa - Editor
Kenya, 8 October 2026 - President William Ruto on Thursday promised to empower farmers and fishermen across the country to realise their full potential.
Farmers and fisherfolk raised their concerns. He gave the assurance during the Presidential Town Hall on the sidelines of the Agriculture and Food Security Summit at Jamhuri Park, Nairobi.
Cotton farmer Mwangi Migwi stated that cotton was only attracting KSh 14 per kilogramme when he started, but he has since seen the price rise to KSh 72 per kilogramme.
He is a cotton farmer from Lamu and a board member of the Cotton Growers Cooperative Union.
The President stated that the government is doing everything possible to help cotton farmers.
"The big challenge that cotton farmers have has been addressed. We have licenced production of BT cotton. With BT cotton, you increase your yields because production costs go down."
Pesticides, fertilisers, finances, seeds and aggregation are the areas that will be addressed to improve the cotton sector.
He tasked the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe to help cotton farmers with subsidies.
CS Kagwe said that will be sorted immediately.
On Aquaculture and honey, Baringo is doing well, and Principal Secretary for Agriculture Jonathan Mueke assured that he will empower beekeepers and that the storage issue will be sorted.
He added that 100,000 beehives have been put in place to help beekeepers across the country.
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On fishing, about KSh 1 billion have been set aside to improve fish landing sites where there are storages and ice cubes.
In Mokowe facility in Lamu currently under construction, the facility will be free, and fisherfolk will be helped with some processing.
The fisherfolk stated that the Beach Management Units (BMUs) are not supposed to be converted to cooperatives because they have an important role in environmental conservation efforts. With core management, we have sections set aside for octopus and algae. They want sub-committees of BMUs to have a role that will uplift the Blue Economy.
"At Coast, the government has used KSh 15 billion, with a large chunk going to fisheries. Landing sites are five. There are grants to BMUs, about KSh 3.3 billion. Fishing boats, 272, have been distributed to fishermen free of charge. Additional boats help with security."
On deep sea fishing the Head of State said that there are about 64 ships.
KSh 20 billion, and the target is to raise more, about 100 billion.
"Fish is the most efficient source of protein, and its byproducts are good for animal feed," President Ruto said.
CS for Blue Ecconomy Ali Hassan Joho stated that per capita consumption has risen from about 2 kilos to about 4.5.
The Town Hall ended at 10pm after an intense three-and-a-half-hour session.