Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua thanked President William Ruto for rallying other African leaders to express the continent's solid stance on climate change.

Speaking at the opening of the 2023 Mombasa International Show, the theme of which is 'Promoting Climate Smart Agriculture and Trade Initiatives for Sustainable Economic Growth,' he said: According to the DP, the President demonstrated great leadership in bringing the leaders together to develop a clear position on the issue.

PHOTO | COURTESY Rigathi praises Ruto

"Kenya is now respected in Africa and around the world as a result of the President's leadership at the Africa Climate Summit." "We are delighted that African leaders have recognised our President's leadership," Gachagua remarked

He stated that the continent will speak with one voice on climate change and climate financing in the future.

"The President has successfully united Africa to speak in one voice. During the coming United Nations General Assembly and COP-28, Africa will speak in one voice and have a common position," added the DP.

PHOTO | COURTESY Rigathi and Ruto

President Ruto stated in a speech on his behalf by the DP that the government is committed to converting agriculture from a subsistence to a commercially and globally competitive industry through specialized projects under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

According to the President, initiatives under the Edible Oil Crops Promotion Project will raise domestically produced edible oil from 80,000 to 240,000 metric tonnes.

"This will lead to a production of 1.5 million metric tonnes of soybean, canola and sunflower seed for use as raw material in oil extraction. The objective is to reduce importation of the commodity which costs us on average Ksh.100 billion annually," he said in the speech.