There was drama in Meru County on Saturday, June 21, when Nominated MP Dorothy Muthoni was loudly heckled by dairy farmers during an event attended by President William Ruto.
The incident happened at the 10th Annual Dairy Farmers Field Day, a major event that brought together thousands of farmers and top government officials. The aim of the event was to highlight innovations and progress in the dairy industry. But what was meant to be a celebratory day quickly turned sour when MP Muthoni stepped up to speak.
At first, she received a calm audience. But tension quickly rose when she claimed that President Ruto had managed to lower the cost of animal feeds — a major concern for dairy farmers.
“We want to thank you, Mr. President, because you have helped Meru dairy farmers by reducing the cost of animal feeds,” she said. But before she could finish, the crowd erupted in protest.
“No! That’s not true! Where have prices dropped? We’re still suffering!” farmers shouted back in Kiswahili. Many were visibly upset, making it clear they felt misled.
Faced with the overwhelming backlash, the MP was forced to backtrack. She acknowledged the farmers' frustration and quickly changed her tone, promising that the issue would be addressed.
“If the prices haven’t come down, we’ll follow up and make sure something is done,” she said, trying to calm the crowd.
The angry response from the farmers showed the deep level of frustration in the dairy sector. Many are still struggling to keep their businesses alive due to the high cost of animal feeds, which remains one of the biggest challenges in livestock farming.
President Ruto later addressed the issue more broadly, promising that his government is still focused on reducing the cost of milk production and supporting the agriculture sector. However, Saturday’s event was a clear sign that farmers on the ground are demanding more than just promises — they want real, visible action.
Other leaders present included Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, and Water and Irrigation CS Eric Muga.
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