President William Ruto on Thursday emerged as the top bidder at the Mombasa International Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) Show, purchasing a Chianina bull for Sh1 million, in what became the highlight of the livestock auction.
The three-year-old Chianina bull, imported from South Africa and weighing 885 kilograms, was the most sought-after animal at the livestock auction. It is one of the oldest and largest cattle breeds in the world, originally from Italy and primarily kept for beef production.
The bidding contest began with Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, who placed an opening bid of Sh300,000. President Ruto quickly pushed the offer to Sh400,000, followed by Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir, who raised the bid to Sh500,000.
Kingi returned with Sh550,000, before Abdullswamad countered at Sh600,000. The competition seemed settled until President Ruto escalated the stakes, making a Sh1 million offer, which effectively ended the contest.
Auctioneers briefly encouraged the dignitaries to pool funds as a gift for the President, but Ruto’s final bid secured the prized bull outright.
Earlier in the day, the Head of State placed a Sh200,000 bid for a Santa Gertrudis bull weighing 679kg, but the animal was eventually bought by Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya for Sh350,000, after Livestock Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke had pushed the price to Sh300,000.
Governor Abdullswamad later purchased a Boran bull weighing 775kg for Sh500,000, while a Mombasa businessman acquired a Charolaise bull weighing 527kg for Sh300,000.
Following the auction, President Ruto officially opened the annual Mombasa ASK Show.
In his address, he praised farmers for embracing modern livestock breeding techniques and pledged continued government support for the agricultural sector.
“Livestock farming is the backbone of food security, and adopting modern practices ensures better yields, higher quality breeds and greater resilience to climate change,” he said.
The ASK shows, held annually in different parts of the country, are a platform for farmers, researchers and agribusinesses to showcase innovation, market linkages and livestock improvement. The Mombasa edition, one of the most popular outside Nairobi, traditionally attracts tens of thousands of visitors and millions of shillings in trade.
According to ASK records, livestock auctions across the country generate over Sh100 million annually, with the most prized bulls fetching between Sh500,000 and Sh1 million, depending on breed, weight and lineage.
President Ruto has frequently spoken about his passion for agriculture. Beyond politics, he runs extensive farming projects, including dairy, poultry and crop farming. In March this year, during a tour of his farm in Narok, he reiterated that agriculture is the foundation of Kenya’s independence and food sovereignty.
“A country that cannot feed itself cannot claim to be independent. Farming is not just a business; it is a responsibility to our nation,” Ruto said at the time, encouraging young people to venture into agriculture.
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