President William Ruto on Saturday announced plans to double funds allocated to tertiary institutions.
Speaking in Laare, Meru County, he said the move will help institutions to improve the quality of education.
“From May, we are going to have a new and comprehensive funding mechanism,” he said.
The Head of State during the launch of the tarmacking of the Kaelo-Kamukunji-Mutuati Road, which he noted will be completed by December this year.
At the same time, the President said the government is committed to increasing farmers’ earnings and creating economic opportunities for all Kenyans.
He said the government had put in place a new regulation reducing Miraa levies to boost earnings.
“Now that we have removed those levies and fees, the Miraa business will thrive,” he said.
The Kenyan leader said the new regulation has also unlocked a market in Somali for the product following negotiations with the government.
Present were Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi, Meru Governor Bishop Kawira Mwangaza, and Members of Parliament led by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah.
Later in Buuri Constituency, the President commissioned the Kiirua Buuri Irrigation Development Project which he said will benefit more than 5,000 farmers in the area.
“It will improve food and nutrition security besides enhancing farm income to Ksh.400 million a year,” he said.
Ruto explained that the government was committed to shifting from Agriculture that is dependent on rain to irrigation-fed.
“We must make our Agriculture commercial and sustainable so that we can break the poverty cycle that is associated with farming,” he noted.
Meanwhile, President Ruto said he will not take part in any exercise meant to further the interest of politicians.
He argued that it was not fair for leaders to continue pushing for their interests — six months after the elections — at the expense of the people.
Governor Mwangaza said she will keep working with the national government to transform the lives of the people of Meru.
“We will not put cooking pots on our heads and participate in protests,” she said.
Kikuyu MP Ichungw’ah said legislators have heeded the President’s directive to engage in dialogue within the confines of the law.