Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday presided over the annual Kimalel goat auction in Baringo County, where he spent a staggering Ksh.12 million for 1,000 goats. That puts the value of each goat at Ksh.12,000.
Mr. Ruto walked into the auction with the millions in a brown suitcase and put it next to himself. When the auctioneers and the goat farmers tried to figure out where the KSh.12 million was going to come from, the DP pointed at the suitcase saying: “Chukua hiyo bag, kuna 12 million hapo ndani.” (Take that bag, there’s 12 million inside.)
Mr. Ruto said the Ksh.12 million was a collective contribution by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter, Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, his (DP Ruto) friends among others, who collectively wanted 1,000 goats for their Christmas celebrations.
Other notable leaders who bought goats at the Kimalel Cultural Fare and Goat Auction include Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, who parted with Ksh120,000 for ten goats; Labour Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie spent Ksh1.2 million for 100 goats; Nyandarua County Governor Francis Kimemia who bought 20 goats for Ksh240,000; Baringo Senator Gideon Moi who spent Ksh492,000 on 41 goats.
The Baringo County Assembly parted with Ksh1.2 million for 100 goats.
This year’s Kimalel Cultural Fare and Goat Auction was sponsored by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), which aims to raise money that will be plunged into covering close to 12,000 families in Baringo County.
The annual goat auction, which had died down in the 1980s, was revived by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013.
