Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate William Ruto while speaking at Karisa Maitha Grounds during the Kenya Kwanza Economic forum on Friday, May 27 promised to revive the cash crop sector in the coastal region if elected president.
The deputy president revealed that he has signed an agreement with the region’s leadership to revive cashew nut, coconut and bixa cash crops, which he mentioned had been ignored by previous administrations.
“I am told after the collapse of the Kenya cashew nut factory, squatters invaded the 350 acres of land for the factory. We will use government money to buy 500 acres in a different place to set up a new factory with modern machinery to enhance value addition to cashew nut,” he said.
The DP added that he plans to ensure a guaranteed minimum return for the cashew nut is adopted.
Moreover, Kilifi governor Amason Kingi reported that several people died without being paid their dues by the factory management, hence called upon the deputy president to ensure they are recompensed before he embarks on any other issue.
“We have people who died before they were paid for the cashew nuts they supplied while others worked there and they were not paid” Kingi said.
He further said that Kilifi and Kwale Counties had partnered to distribute high yielding grafted cashew seedlings.
“There is a small cashew processing factory at the Ten senses farm in Kibarani but we need a bigger one. This will make the economy of this region grow tremendously,” Kingi stated.
Likewise, Kilifi North MP, Owen Baya, had continuously moved a motion in parliament to amend the Crops Act to include coconut and cashew nut crops as cash crops to attract funding from the government. However, he reported that his efforts to compel the government to establish the insurance cover have been unsuccessful.
William Ruto said as part of the charter he will sign with the coast people, he will ensure if a crop does not meet the guaranteed return, the government will compensate them.