ICT Chief Administrative Secretary Dennis Itumbi has told off the Azimio Coalition that only planting can lower the cost of unga in Kenya.

He insisted that there are no shortcuts in the name of subsidies, which the opposition has been calling for.

Itumbi said that President William Ruto had on Saturday led his staff for planting.

“Yesterday, the President took time to practically join in activities to prepare his farm for planting. Like millions of farmers keen to increase production and lower the cost of unga!

"Sio sufuria kwa kichwa, it is Planting that will address the cost of living. There are no shortcuts in the name of subsidy. Hard work and sweat are the only ways. Pasaka njema,” he said on Sunday.

His remarks came shortly after Ruto said that he was pleased to be back home. Ruto, who was accompanied by his wife Rachael and their three children at the AIC Fellowship church, said it was his pleasure to return home.

He explained that he decided to spend his Easter in the village so that he can supervise planting as part of his administration’s measures to ensure farmers increase production to address the cost of living.

“We have a big debate in the country about the cost of living and how we need to reduce the cost of food but it boils down to what we do as farmers, so as a farmer I came down here to look at what I can do to make a contribution to food production in our country,” he stated.

This year, he said, he intends to double the productivity of the farm so that he can contribute to food production.

The opposition has been calling for the reintroduction of subsidies for basic commodities.

One of the ways they have been participating in the protests is by wearing cooking pans (sufuria) on their heads.