The government has 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.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Kipronoh Ronoh in a March 20, 2024, notice addressed to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) ordered for the suspension of the distribution following a spot check by his department.
“Following a spot visit by Ministry staff led by the Principal Secretary to Counties and National Cereals and Produce Board stores, it was established that the above fertilizer being distributed under subsidy program may not be meeting the required standards as earlier indicated,” read part of the notice.
In turn, NCPB was ordered to suspend the distribution of the fertilizer with immediate effect in the letter copied to Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.
The Cereals Board was further directed to carry out investigations to ascertain the specifications of the said fertilizer before being re-introduced to the fertilizer subsidy program.
Furthermore, PS Kipronoh warned that in the event the fertilizer is found to be subs-standard, the supplier will be penalized and meet the full cost.
Also Read: Panic as 700 Bags of Fertilizer Mixed with Sand is Seized
The order came following claims that counterfeit subsidized fertilizer had infiltrated the state-sponsored subsidized fertilizer program with reported seizures across different parts of the country.
Linturi maintains no fake fertilizer was distributed
However, contrary to the order by the State Department, CS Linturi refuted the claims insisting that there was no fake fertilizer.
Linturi while speaking in Kuresoi, Nakuru County, on March 26 asserted that government fertilizer was approved through scientifical testing before circulation to Kenyan farmers.
“The government fertilizer we are distributing is fertilizer that has been approved and we have all test results and analysis. This fertilizer has been tested and we have concluded it is fit. We cannot allow a situation where our farmers are being robbed,” he said.
While further advising farmers not to believe any hearsay on the fertilizer question, he called out critics noting that everyone wanted to label themselves as “scientists”.
CS Linturi subsequently accused the opposition of attempting to derail the government’s development agenda, faulting them for allegedly spreading rumors about the alleged counterfeit fertilizer.
Also Read: Police Recover Stolen Govt Fertilizer in a Church
He however admitted that as a safety measure to ensure that no counterfeit subsidized fertilizer is circulating, the government has since launched investigations.
700 bags nabbed
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) impounded 700 bags of fake fertilizer each weighing 50Kgs in Kakamega County, sparking a blame game among different leaders in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Subsequently, Police in Eldoret seized an extra 560 bags on March 26, 2024, that was being offloaded at a trading center.
While speaking about the subsidized fertilizer program, President William Ruto said those found selling substandard products would face criminal charges.
Ruto was speaking at Masinde Muliro University during the Kakamega County International Investment Conference where he assured Kenyans that the government will make subsidized fertilizer available before the next planting season.
He noted that investigations to bringing to book those behind the sale of fake fertilizer and seeds have since been launched.
“Just today, we have arrested some of the characters who want to take advantage of our fertilizer supply program and we have already many more who have been charged in court,” said President Ruto.
The Head of State further allayed fears of a crisis in the agricultural sector due to the high demand for subsidized fertilizer ahead of the planting season saying everything was being done to ensure it is available to farmers beginning from the end of this month.
