The Ministry of Agriculture has instructed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to compensate farmers who received fake fertilizer under the subsidy programme distributed across the country.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono on April 6, 2024, emphasized that the government cannot allow food security basket to be messed up by few individuals.
“We are going to replace the fertilizers with the right fertilizer once we receive the wrong fertilizer because now it is under investigation,” he said.
“For the farmers who have used the fertilizers already we have also analyzed the missing ingredient in those fertilizers which will be addressed by top tracing our fertilizers which are in our store.”
PS Rono said that they were engaging the affected farmers and had directed NCPB to proceed with facilitating them by capturing the data and ascertaining the information so they could be assisted.
He further warned that tough legal actions will be taken against the culprits involved in the fake fertilizer saga.
“What you’ll be hearing are only people in court people in jail and some disappearing,” the PS said.
Furthermore, he stated that the most affected areas which have been identified are some counties in the North Rift and a few other areas in the South Rift where planting started in mid-March.
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Govt Takes Measures of Fertilizer Scandal
The remarks by the PS came a day after the government suspended the operations of KEL chemicals and seized its fertilizer products following a report by KEBS confirming that it did not meet the required quality standards.
The affected consignment was distributed by KEL Chemical fertilizers between 5th and 10th March 2024.
Among the brands distributed by the firm that did not meet all required test parameters include Kelphos Plus, Kelphos Gold and NPK 10:26:10.
“Following release of test results by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the government has taken decisive action to safeguard the agricultural sector and farmers by announcing the immediate suspension of KEL Chemicals’ operations and seizure of its fertilizer products,” read the statement in part,” read part of the Ministry’s statement.
The Ministry advised farmers who had acquired or possessed fertilizer from KEL Chemicals to immediately discontinue its use and to visit their nearest NCPB facility for further guidance.
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Fake Fertilizer Seized
On March 19, 2024, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kakamega County confiscated 700 bags of counterfeit fertilizer from a depot located in Malava.
Similarly, on March 23, 2024, detectives in Nakuru County seized 560 bags of suspected fake fertilizer worth Sh1.4 million intended for delivery to Molo NCPB stores.
Subsequently, the Kenya National Bureau of Standards (KEBS) initiated a recall of all fertilizer brands distributed by SBL company and revoked their standardization marks after a report uncovered unethical trading practices by the said manufacturer.
The government on March 27 suspended the distribution of the NPK 10:26:10 fertilizer manufactured by Ken Chemical Ltd on grounds of not meeting the required standards and specifications.
