President William Ruto and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe stole the show at the Nairobi International Trade Fair livestock auction after placing record-breaking bids for Borana and crossbreed bulls.
The competitive auction, held at Jamhuri Showgrounds during the official opening of the fair, saw Ruto and Kagwe outpace rival bidders in a spirited show of support for farmers.
Ruto placed the highest bid of the day, offering Sh700,000 for a 720-kilogram Borana bull. Earlier, he had attempted to secure a 655-kilogram Borana with a Sh300,000 offer, but Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja outbid him, sealing the deal at Sh500,000.
The President also bid Sh400,000 for a 635-kilogram Borana, though Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh snatched it with a winning offer of Sh600,000.
Meanwhile, CS Kagwe secured a 630-kilogram crossbreed bull at Sh600,000, after a heated contest. He had earlier tried to claim the champion Borana at Sh200,000, but Ruto eventually won it at Sh700,000.
PS Ronoh kept the bidding lively, though most of his offers, including Sh300,000 for the crossbreed, were surpassed.
This was not the first time Ruto made big moves at a livestock auction. At the recent Mombasa trade fair, he purchased a Chianina bull imported from South Africa at Sh1 million, demonstrating his commitment to supporting livestock farmers.
The 2024 Nairobi International Trade Fair, running from September 29 to October 5, carries the theme: “Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth.”
With over 300 exhibitors from countries including China, India, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria, the fair remains East Africa’s premier showcase for innovations in agriculture, agribusiness, livestock, and trade.
Hosted annually by the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) since 1902, the fair continues to provide a vital platform for networking, technology showcasing, product launches, and farmer empowerment.
