President William Ruto (left), Gender Culture and heritage cabinet secretary Hanna Wendot, Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren second (right), and Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi, during the Annual Kimalel Goat Auction and Cultural Fair, held at Kimalel in Baringo County on December 22, 2025.
More than Sh82 million was raised in this year’s Kimalel Goat Auction and Cultural Fair in 15 minutes, up from Sh64 million last year.
President William Ruto, who presided over the event on Monday in Baringo County, purchased over 1,300 goats.
His deputy, Prof Kithure Kindiki, bought 500 goats, each selling at Sh13,000.
The annual event drew several dignitaries, including Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) for Energy Opiyo Wandayi, Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service), Hanna Wendot (Gender) as well as multiple MPs, senators and local leaders.
President William Ruto accompanied by Gender, Culture and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Hanna Wendot, and other leaders joins dancers in a jig during the Annual Kimalel Goat Auction and Cultural Fair, held at Kimalel in Baringo County on December 22, 2025.
This year, the auction incorporated an online market dubbed Efarmer, which allows young people to trade electronically. Farmers could order goats on the online from anywhere in the country, complementing the traditional physical sale.
By the time President Ruto left, he had purchased over 6,320 goats, retailing at Sh13,000 each. Online sales and individual purchases continued after his departure.
This year, more than 8,300 goats were sold across all 30 wards in the region, nearly double the 4,300 goats sold last year.
President Ruto said that all buyers must pay in cash before delivery to avoid debts for both the county government and farmers.
“I am very happy to note that farmers availed more than 8,000 goats for sale this year, up from 4,300 last year. This is due to the prevailing peace in areas that were formerly ravaged by insecurity. Every dignitary here must buy the goats to promote farmers but you must pay in cash before delivery to avoid debts,” he said.
“I am buying 1,300 goats myself because I have several people to distribute them to including the police and recruits in training. My deputy whom I have sent for an assignment elsewhere, will take 500 goats,” he added.
During the event, the President also announced the allocation of Sh12 billion to mitigate the effects of the dry spell. This week, Sh3.5 billion will be disbursed to ensure adequate food supply and rollout of animal off-take programs, so farmers do not incur losses if conditions worsen.
Improving livelihoods
The Kimalel Goat Auction originally started in 1986 by the late President Daniel Moi is a key initiative aimed at improving the livelihoods of farmers in the region, who depend largely on livestock keeping.
The county is popularly known as the “goat county”, and visitors often stop at the Koriema Shopping Centre on the Kabarnet-Marigat road to sample the region’s famous Koriema meat. According to locals, the meat is naturally salty and succulent, owing to the red soils and shrubs that the goats feed on.
Dr Ruto also reaffirmed that Kenya’s “road to Singapore” is achievable, dismissing naysayers he said are engaging in “cheap politicking.”
He said the bottom-up economic model is not merely a slogan but a concrete plan to transform Kenya from a third-world to a first-world country.
“There is nothing we are implementing that was not part of the manifesto we sold to the people of Kenya, who voted overwhelmingly. We have the National Infrastructure Fund, and we are simply delivering the plan that over 7.2 million Kenyans endorsed in the last election,” Dr Ruto said.
Goat in paddocks during the Annual Kimalel Goat Auction and Cultural Fair, held at Kimalel in Baringo County, presided over by President William Ruto on December 22, 2025.
Dr Ruto also promised that the Mau Summit road project will be completed by June next year and challenged detractors to scrutinize results rather than engage in empty political talk.
“Those who want to compete with me should stop cheap politicking and present their own manifestos and track records. The road to Singapore is possible, and the results will speak for themselves,” he said
Breakdown
During the auction:
PSs bought 585 goats
Baringo MPs purchased 450 goats
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa –300 goats
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei – 200 goats
Transport CS Davis Chirchir – 200 goats
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi – 200 goats
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot – 300 goats
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi – 200 goats
Other CSs purchased 100 goats each
Baringo Governor – 100 goats
MCAs – 100 goats
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