{
  "id": 15614651,
  "title": "Ruto Says Govt Addressing Drought, Food Security Through Increased Agricultural Production",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/ruto-says-govt-addressing-drought-food-security-through-increased",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T14:37:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/ruto-says-govt-addressing-drought-food-security-through-increased-agricultural-production/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President William Ruto stated that the government is focused on boosting agricultural production and reducing farming costs to tackle the impact of drought on food security and living expenses. Speaking to over 5,000 Kalenjin elders in Eldoret, Ruto emphasized that supporting farmers to produce more food would enhance supply, affordability, and Kenya's resilience against drought. He assured farmers that the administration would continue assisting them to increase productivity and earnings, thus stimulating the economy and strengthening the wider society.\n\nRuto also highlighted that Kenyans in the tea, sugarcane, and other agricultural sectors are experiencing improved earnings due to the government's efforts to eliminate middlemen. Defending the economic policies of his administration, Ruto said it was working to bridge the wealth gap by generating employment and income opportunities. He added that the government is investing in affordable housing, digital jobs, and overseas placements to boost household incomes. According to Ruto, 1.1 million Kenyans are employed in the housing sector, 300,000 earn from digital jobs, while another 700,000 have secured overseas employment. He also mentioned that two million Kenyans who were unemployed in 2022 have since found jobs.\n\nThe President stressed that these initiatives are meant to create a more equitable society by expanding opportunities, particularly for those at the bottom of the economic ladder. He acknowledged the significant gap between the rich and the poor and the disparity between the working class and the non-working class, which prompted the government to strive for balance. Ruto reaffirmed his administration's commitment to national unity and equitable development, promising that no region would be left behind as the government implements its national transformation agenda.\n\nOn healthcare, Ruto mentioned that the Social Health Authority is helping alleviate financial burdens on households by improving access to medical services. He also underscored investments in education, such as recruiting 100,000 additional teachers, constructing 23,000 classrooms, and revising the higher education funding model. These measures aim to enhance access to education while reducing the financial burden on parents. The President maintained that the government's interventions across agriculture, healthcare, education, and employment are designed to improve livelihoods and promote economic inclusion, ultimately helping to create an equitable society.",
  "summary": "Ruto said supporting farmers to produce more food would help boost supplies, improve affordability and strengthen Kenya's resilience to drought.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Ruto: Government prioritising food production to tackle drought",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/ruto-government-prioritising-food-production-to-tackle-drought",
        "published": "2026-10-19T15:30:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}