Deputy President William Ruto on
Saturday
returned to Kambi Kuku where he spent his youthful days selling chicken to motorists.
At the Uasin Gishu location this time round, he launched a poultry auction, the first of its kind, in the history of Kenya.
Every life story has a beginning and the value of the tale is how far and how wide one goes from this starting point.
This contrast is typically used to define success and for Ruto, the beginning was a scorching one.
He spent his days selling chicken to motorists at Kambi Kuku, a makeshift marketplace built around the bumps along Eldoret-Malava road.
Today, the DP engaged 'hustlers',
listened to their stories and launched an auction for them to sell their chicken at better prices.
Read:
Also read:
Deputy President William Ruto reacts after catching a chicken during the Kambi Kuku Auction at Kambi Kuku in Turbo constituency, Uasin Gishu county, April 21, 2018. /NYAGA IRERI/DPPS
Ruto said he decided to launch the auction, in the area where he earned the nickname 'hustler', to boost poultry businesses by youth and women's groups.
The activity, which raised Sh6 million, brought together small-scale poultry farmers from Jua Kali, Turbo and their environs, with a total of 5,000 chickens sold at Sh1,200 each.
Ruto told the business people that the county government will help poultry farmers to form cooperative societies. This is so that middlemen, who exploit them by buying the chicken at lower prices, are eliminated.
The Deputy President noted poultry farming will lift women and youths out of poverty and improve their living standards.
“Even the richest man on earth, Bill Gates, agrees that it is through poultry keeping that we can eliminate poverty."
Ruto
called upon the farmers to tap into modern rearing methods amid national efforts to achieve food security.
He told them to use quality feeds, construct permanent brooder pens, improve storage facilities and venture into value addition.
Ruto also assured the traders of the availability of a slaughterhouse and storage facilities where the meat will be kept for even a month.
“We have a ready slaughterhouse and storage facilities in this area. It’s now upon farmers to invest in the sector to increase production."
The DP said
the auction will be held yearly at a venue to be identified by the county government.
Governor Jackson Mandago told farmers in the area to take advantage of the auction by investing in the sector.
“Let’s invest in poultry to increase our productivity,” he said.
Among those present were Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter and Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet).
Others were MPs Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Caleb Kositany (Soy), Janet Sitienei (Turbo) and Gideon Keter (nominated) were also present.
Related: