Tanzania’s Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe has dispelled reports that the fake fertilizer distributed to farmers in Kenya was imported from Tanzania.
Reports that the fake fertilizer was manufactured in Tanzania sparked mixed reactions on social media with several twists to the developing saga.
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Prominent lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi was among the Kenyans who commented on the reports stating, “now have actionable intelligence that the fake fertilizer was manufactured/procured from Tanzania.”
What followed was a debate with Kenyans on X, formerly Twitter, sharing their views on the reports.
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Some called for investigations into the claims while a number of them rubbished the claims for lacking a concrete basis.
In a subsequent post, Tanzania’s Minister Hussein Bashe responded to Ahmednassir’s post and stated that Tanzania was not in any way connected to the fertilizer saga.
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“Brother, is this comment intended as part of the usual banter between Tanzania and Kenya or are you serious?’ the Tanzanian Minister noted.
“Tanzania is not connected to any fake fertilizer scandal, so please do not associate us with the popular hustler culture.’
Kenya asked to leave out Tanzania in fertilizer mess
He went on to assert that Tanzanian authorities were certain of the standards of the goods exported by two companies mentioned in the saga contrary to the reports spread in some quarters.
At the same time, the Tanzanian Minister affirmed that his country does not export counterfeit commodities, including fertilizer, to Kenya.
Also Read: Govt to Compensate Farmers who Received Fake Fertilizer
Instead, he challenged Kenyans to clean up the fertilizer scandal without implicating Tanzania.
“Please address your own issues with shortcuts and questionable practices, as our trade policies are governed by principles rooted in integrity,” he added.
“If there is a mess, I recommend you clean it up, do not implicate Tanzania. It is not our way.”
The Tanzanian angle was the latest twist in the saga that has been a hot topic in Kenyan circles for weeks now.
NCPB to compensate fake fertilizer victims
On Wednesday, April 24, the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) started the process of compensating farmers who received substandard fertilizer under the government subsidy program.
Also Read: Manager Reveals State House Closed-Door Meeting on Fake Fertilizer
According to the Board, all farmers who bought the fertilizer found to be sub-standard from NCPB would be compensated in line with an earlier presidential directive.
Meanwhile, a legislator in the National Assembly filed a motion of impeachment against Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi and group of over 100 members of parliament are said to be in support of the move.
Pressure has continued to pile on the executive with calls from various quarters calling for action against the culprits in the scandal exposed by John Allan Namu’s Africa Uncensored.
The fertilizer scam which could deflect President William Ruto‘s dream of making Kenya food secure, was also part of the Cabinet’s agenda.
“On suppliers of sub-standard fertilizer, President Ruto directed those tough measures be taken against “anyone who adulterates an important national programme”, read part of a dispatch from State House.
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