RUTO BEST PERFORMER

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 26 - William Ruto’s former Agriculture docket has been rated as the best performing ministry in a government audit released on Monday.

The audit covers Mr Ruto’s tenure at Kilimo house for the period 2008-2009. The results came barely days after the aggressive Minister was demoted to the the Higher Education Ministry in what he termed as a political move owing to his opposition campaign on the proposed Constitution.

Owing to government policy of awarding departments, the trophy was received by his successor Dr Sally Kosgei.

The Attorney General’s Office topped the overall ranking with the Agriculture Ministry coming second. State House was third followed by the Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administration while the Ministry of Planning came in fifth.

The Ministry of Forestry was named the worst performer followed by the Ministry of Gender, while that of East African Community was the third worst.

The review results were suspended last year after they were reportedly leaked to the media before the release.

The Nyayo Tea Zones was named the best performing parastatal followed by the country’s biggest institution of higher learning, the University of Nairobi. The Kenya Literature Bureau was third.

The audit seems to have vindicated Mr Ruto’s tenure at the helm of the Agriculture docket. As he handed over office end of last week, he boasted of his performance and said he was proud of his achievements.

Mr Ruto had prioritised Kenya’s food security as top in his agenda. To achieve this he had introduced free farm inputs to farmers to boost food production and spearheaded revival of irrigation schemes across the country. The Eldoret North MP is also credited with jumpstarting the privatisation of government owned sugar companies.