William Ruto, Gachagua Buy Goats Worth KSh 15m In Kimalel Goat Auction, Baringo

• Leading the auction, President William Ruto declared that he and his deputy would acquire 1,000 goats at KSh 15,000 each
• Other politicians present at the Kimalel Goat Auction bought the goats at KSh 13,000 each
• The leaders were not allowed to buy on credit or use cheques to avoid issues of bouncing cheques

Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, leverages more than three years of expertise in financial, business, and technology research, providing profound insights into both Kenyan and global economic trends.

On Thursday, President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, purchased goats amounting to KSh 15 million at the Kimalel Goat Auction and Cultural Festival in Baringo.

Leading the auction, Ruto declared that he and his deputy would acquire 1,000 goats out of the 3000 goats at the auction at a rate of KSh 15,000 each.

"The DP and I will buy one goat at KSh 15,000, but the rest have said they will buy at KSh 13,000, and we will allow them that," Ruto said.

Ruto extended the opportunity for other leaders, including cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, governors, senators, and MCAs, to buy each goat at KSh 13,000, following some dissatisfaction with the initial KSh 15,000 price since in the previous year, each goat was sold for KSh 12,000 at the same auction.

How many goats did the other leaders buy

Among the attendees were Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen, who bought 150 goats, MP Oscar Sudi (150 goats), Baringo MPs (120), Governor Benjamin Cheboi (100), Belgut MP Nelson Koech (100), KNCCI president Eric Ruto (100), and Senator William Cheptumo (50).

The president warned the leaders that they would not be allowed to purchase the goats on credit or cheques but would be required to pay in cash.

"There are two things: no credit and no cheques. We don't want issues about bounced cheques; we finish everything right here," said the president.

History of the Kimalel Goat Auction

Initiated in 1986 and popularised by the late president Daniel arap Moi, the annual event began as an effort to foster self-reliance among Baringo residents by auctioning their goats.

This year's goat auction, which started on Wednesday, was the ninth edition of the Kimalel Goat auction.

Hatching eggs using goat droppings

In other related news, TUKO.co.ke reported that a widow from Chepalungu in Bomet county had devised a way of hatching eggs on her farm using goat droppings.

Hotline Korir lost her husband ten tears ago, and the mum of four took up poultry farming to feed her four children, and according to her neighbour Daniel Mutai, she puts the droppings in the basin, where the chicks hatch.

"She uses goat droppings to hatch her eggs, and on a good day, she can get at least nine of ten eggs," Muta told TUKO.co.ke.