President William Ruto received an enthusiastic welcome in Sagana on Saturday as he introduced Hassan Joho, the new Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, during his development tour.
The President, while addressing residents, revealed that he had tasked Joho with enhancing the fisheries sector in the county.
As soon as Ruto mentioned Joho’s name, the crowd erupted in cheers, prompting the President to pause and laugh at the warm reception.
Ruto announced that he had instructed CS Joho to stay in Sagana until the fingerlings production in Kirinyaga County increased from one million to five million by next year.
“I have told the new Cabinet Secretary, Ali Hassan Joho, who is here (cheers as Ruto laughs), to remain here until this project is fully operational. We are committed to boosting investment in this initiative, aiming to increase fingerling production from one million to five million in the near term,” Ruto stated.
He emphasized Sagana’s reputation as a key producer of fingerlings, supplying much of the country, but noted the lack of a comprehensive plan to develop the sector.
Read also:William Ruto: Healthcare to Be Free for All Kenyans from Birth Till Age 18
The President also mentioned plans to collaborate with the African Development Bank to secure funding for expanding fingerlings production and strengthening the fisheries industry nationwide.
“Sagana is well-known for producing fingerlings that are supplied across Kenya, yet there has been no effective plan to capitalize on this,” Ruto said. “The Kenyan government, in partnership with the African Development Bank, will ensure sufficient funding to double the fingerlings you produce.”
This visit marks President Ruto’s first working tour with Joho as the Maritime Affairs CS. Joho is one of the newly appointed Cabinet Secretaries in Ruto’s restructured Cabinet, following the dismissal of his previous one on July 11, 2024.
The President is expected to inaugurate several development projects in Kirinyaga on Saturday.
