SBL Innovate Manufacturers, the Company accused of selling fake fertilizer to farmers, has denied the allegations and dismissed calls to compensate farmers affected by the scandal.
The CEO, Josiah Kariuki, faced the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock on Tuesday, April 9, regarding the counterfeit fertilizer supply.
During the heated session, Kariuki denied claims that SBL distributed diatomite packaged as fertilizer to farmers adding that companies caught selling ‘soil’ should be the ones to compensate farmers.
“There is no single or any farmer who has complained or shown that our product is a soil. We know and we have seen so many times, there are people who are selling soil, and they are the ones who should compensate the farmers,” Kariuki said.
Kariuki said the Company had an agreement with the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to sell his products and that the Board took samples for testing before the deal was signed on March 31, 2022.
From Original to Fake Fertilizer (Diatomite)
The Committee chaired by Tigania West MP, John Mutunga asked Kariuki to explain how the product changed from ‘organic fertilizer’ to ‘diatomite’ supplied to the farmers.
In his response, Kariuki defended the product sold by SBL as legitimate, stating that the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) took samples and gave SBL the go ahead to distribute organic fertilizer.
“There was no way I could have been issued with a certificate without them visiting the factory. It is mandatory for them,” Kariuki added.
MPs pointed out that the product SBL distributed between March 2022 and March 2024 was not the one certified by KEBS.
The CEO explained the same product tested and certified by the KEBS is the one SBL supplied to the farmers.
“KEBS certified the sample fertilizer I presented to them. That is the same fertilizer that is in the market. About the counterfeit fertilizer KEBS should be questioned for that,” Kariuki said.
However, a firm John Mutunga stood his ground that investigations found the fertilizer to be fake and that the samples distributed through NCPB was different from the ones approved by KEBS.
“The product you gave to KEBS to test is not the product you are circulating, that is the point. What you are selling now is a fake product, it is a fake product, it is rogue,” Chairperson Mutunga said as the CEO faced the Committee.
Also Read: Linturi Cornered as MPs Bring Fake Fertilizer Samples Before Him
Number of Bags Distributed
Kariuki, in his submissions, revealed that NCPB distributed about 100,000 bags of suspected fake fertilizer from SBL Innovate between 2022 and 2024 opposed to the 70,000 bags declared by the Board.
“The NCPB have done about 100,000 bags, I used to give extra bags and I gave farmers 20,000 bags when I was doing demos. So, any farmer who used buy from the Cereals Board used to get an extra bag when they bought more than two bags,” he said.
The Committee also wanted to know if Kariuki has scientific evidence that can prove that the fertilizer has an improvement to crops. In his response, the CEO said, “The moisture in silica canield. Our packaging has iron inside that retains the moisture”.
Also Read: 8 Govt Officials Linked to Fake Fertilizer Scandal Interdicted
Ruto Calls for Farmers Compensation
This comes after President William Ruto ordered the compensation of farmers issued with fake fertilizer.
Speaking on April 8, Ruto said that the company involved in the fake fertilizer scandal should compensate farmers.
“Those few people who want to take advantage of food production, the company that was involved, should compensate farmers who bought fake fertilizer and they should be given new fertilizers free of charge,” he said.
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi also accused SBL Innovate Manufacturers owners of using the NCPB to scam farmers and called for the prosecution.
