By Charles Kinyua
Former Kirinyaga Deputy Governor Peter Ndambiri has urged the government to prioritize purchasing locally produced rice before turning to importation, warning that continued reliance on foreign goods is undermining Kenya’s economic growth.
Speaking during an interview on Uge Waku on Inooro TV last week, Ndambiri criticized what he termed as a growing trend of sidelining local producers despite the country having the capacity to meet much of its own demand.
“No nation has ever developed by suffocating its own producers,” he said. “We cannot aspire to reach the level of Singapore while spending our limited foreign exchange on goods that are already in abundance locally.”
According to Ndambiri, rice farmers in Mwea are currently sitting on millions of bags of unsold rice—himself included, with over 600 bags in storage. He questioned the motive behind proposals to import more rice at such a time.
“Unless those in authority are seeking campaign funding, there is no genuine reason for importing millions of bags now,” he claimed.
The Democratic Republic Movement (DRM) party leader further dismissed suggestions that Mwea Rice Mills should be put up for sale, insisting that it is not a parastatal and should remain under local control.
On President William Ruto’s recent self-appraisal, Ndambiri argued that the head of state should let Kenyans judge the administration’s performance.
“No one marks their own exam,” he said. “If the economy is truly improving, Kenyans will be the first to acknowledge it.”
He noted that with the government being the largest spender, economic recovery is impossible while nearly a trillion shillings remains unpaid in pending bills. He also questioned how the state expects to fund its proposed infrastructure bond when citizens are already overtaxed, public debt is at historic highs, and schools continue to struggle due to delayed capitation.
Turning to the NYOTA youth fund, Ndambiri criticized its rollout, comparing it to the Hustler Fund, where repayment rates remain low.
“How do you give KSh50,000 to an untrained youth and expect them to run a successful business?” he asked, calling for more robust structures and training.
He urged the government to delink national development from politics, cautioning that the president should focus less on securing a second term and more on delivering quality services across all sectors.
“The wellbeing of the economy should never be tied to political ambitions,” he said. “Service delivery must come first.”
