Ruto Assures Kenyans of Food Security Plan Amid Drought Concerns

President William Ruto has assured Kenyans that the government is prepared to address potential food shortages following a drought that has affected agricultural production in parts of the country.

Speaking on Monday, October 19, 2026, during a meeting with more than 5,000 Kalenjin elders from the North Rift and South Rift regions at Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County, the President said measures had been put in place to cushion the country against a possible decline in food production.

Ruto maintained that supporting farmers to grow more food remained central to the government’s strategy to protect food supplies and reduce the cost of living.

“This year alone has been affected by drought, but we have put in place a comprehensive plan to ensure that even if food production declines slightly, we are prepared to deal with it,” he said.

The assurance comes as concerns over weather conditions and their impact on farming continue to put food security in the spotlight. For many Kenyan households, the amount they spend on basic commodities remains a key measure of economic well-being.

Ruto links food prices to agricultural production

The President argued that reducing the cost of living would require sustained investment in agriculture and greater support for farmers.

According to Ruto, increasing domestic food production would help improve supply and make essential food commodities more affordable.

“To reduce the cost of living, we must reduce the cost of food by supporting farmers so that they can produce more food,” he said.

He added that the government was also focused on improving farmers’ earnings, arguing that stronger agricultural incomes would benefit households while encouraging continued investment in production.

“We must also increase the incomes of our farmers because when many farmers earn more, they will be able to meet their daily needs,” Ruto said.

The President cited coffee, tea, sugarcane, avocados and milk as some of the agricultural products through which farmers could improve their earnings.

“That is why we have improved the earnings from coffee, tea, sugarcane, avocados and milk,” he said.

Agriculture remains an important source of livelihoods in Kenya, supporting millions of people directly and indirectly. However, production remains vulnerable to changing weather patterns, high input costs, market fluctuations and other challenges that can affect farmers’ returns.

While the President expressed confidence in the government’s preparedness, the effectiveness of the measures will ultimately depend on food availability, market prices and the ability of farmers to sustain production.

Government highlights jobs and household incomes

Beyond food security, Ruto used the meeting to defend the government’s broader economic agenda, pointing to housing, digital employment and overseas job opportunities as avenues for increasing household incomes.

He said the affordable housing programme was creating employment opportunities across the country.

“That is why we have the housing programme, which is creating one million jobs,” the President said.

He also cited the digital jobs programme, which he said was creating nearly 400,000 jobs, alongside overseas employment opportunities that he put at nearly 700,000.

The figures were presented by the President as part of his administration’s efforts to expand employment and improve the financial position of ordinary Kenyans. Their definitions, timeframes and current implementation status would need to be examined to establish how many represent jobs already created, ongoing opportunities or projected employment.

Ruto maintained that putting more money into households was essential to improving living standards and strengthening the economy.

“We should use agriculture to put money into the pockets of ordinary citizens,” he said.

The approach links two major concerns facing the country: the need to keep essential commodities affordable and the need to provide reliable income opportunities for households.

Drought puts food security back in focus

Drought can affect crop yields, livestock production and access to water, with consequences that extend beyond farming communities. Reduced harvests may tighten food supplies, increase pressure on prices and affect the incomes of farmers who depend on rain-fed agriculture.

For consumers, the impact can be felt through higher prices for staple foods and other household necessities. For farmers, poor rainfall can mean lower earnings even when the cost of seeds, fertiliser, transport and other inputs remains high.

The government’s ability to manage these risks will depend on the scale of the affected areas, the availability of food reserves, imports where necessary and timely support for farmers and vulnerable households.

Ruto said the government had prepared for the possibility of reduced production, but details of the specific drought-response measures were not provided in the remarks outlined at the meeting.

Independent assessments of rainfall, harvest projections, food stocks and market prices will therefore be important in determining whether the planned interventions are sufficient to prevent shortages and contain food inflation.

President meets Kalenjin elders in Eldoret

The meeting at Eldoret State Lodge brought together thousands of Kalenjin elders from the North Rift and South Rift regions for discussions touching on development priorities and the government’s plans.

Ruto used the gathering to outline his administration’s priorities, including agricultural production, improved farmer incomes and employment creation.

The engagement also provided a platform for the President to communicate his economic agenda to community leaders from a region where agriculture is a major source of livelihoods.

However, the immediate concern for many Kenyans will be whether the government’s food security plan can translate into stable supplies and prices, particularly if drought conditions continue to affect production.

For households already balancing food purchases against transport, rent, school fees and other expenses, assurances of preparedness will carry greater weight when reflected in the cost and availability of basic commodities.