State flags off fertiliser, assures farmers of quality

In the wake of the ongoing storm over fake fertiliser circulating the market, the government has flagged off the second consignment of 50,000 metric tons equivalent to, one million bags of NPK 23:23:0 fertiliser at the Port of Mombasa, for distribution to farmers nationwide.

This adds to the five million bags allocated for the long rains, with a previous consignment of four million bags already in distribution through the National Cereals and Produce Boards Board (NCPB) stores.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Rono, flanked by three counterparts including Principal Secretary, State Department for Industrialisation, Ministry of Investment Promotion Trade and Industry, Dr Juma Mukhwana, PS Mohamed Dhagar (Transport) and PS Investment Promotion Abubakar Hassan Abubakar assured the public that the consignment, “Procured from Russia,” had undergone rigorous quality testing.

He emphasised the ministry’s commitment to ensuring farmers receive fertiliser on time, in the right quantity, and of the right quality.  “This arrangement you see here is our multi-stakeholder engagement to ensure that we do all that is necessary so that our farmers get fertiliser on time, the right quantity and the right quality…As you are aware is that there was a small issue to do with the quality of fertiliser and as a ministry we are happy because we are able to arrest the situation very early,” PS Rono noted.

Subsidy programme

In a strong warning to cartels behind fake fertiliser, senior government officials, including Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, affirmed that the culprits’ days are numbered.

The government recently shut down KEL Chemicals, the alleged supplier of substandard fertiliser under the subsidy programme, following Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi’s visit to the Thika-based company.

Tests conducted by Kebs revealed that Kelphos Plus, Kelphos gold, and NPK 10:26:10 from KEL Chemicals did not meet requirements.

PS Mukhwana said about 5,000 bags from KEL chemicals had been distributed to farmers. He added that all the fertiliser found in the stores has been confiscated.

“What we are saying is they must compensate the farmers who bought the wrong fertiliser. The same applies to any other company doing the same, “said Mukhwana.

Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura emphasised that action would be taken against those involved in substandard procurement, including Kebs officers. He warned procurement entities to be vigilant and stated that the government would not protect anyone implicated in malpractices.

According to the government spokesman, 51 Capital (K) which was involved in a commercial agency agreement with NCPB to sell a variety of products among them GPC soil conditioner, is also under investigations.

“And now that Kebs has come out clearly those Kebs officers who certified that and anyone who was involved in that kind of substandard  kind of procurement, just know that the government is going to take action,” the Mwaura said.

While warning procurement entities to be extra vigilant on whom they work with to supply to the government, Mwaura warned the government will not side with anyone whenever an issue is raised against them.

PS Rono affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring food security and warned rogue regulatory officials and suppliers of legal consequences.

“All those individuals involved you will only hear three things, one they will be in Court, they will be in jail. And when I said some will be disappearing, I thought that they would go out of the country but they have disappeared to the hospitals. I want to warn them to come out of the hospitals and record statements because they are criminals. I want to tell the hospitals which are hosting the criminals to immediately act because the people who have gone to book hospital beds on pretence that they are sick should be investigated because they belong to jail,” the PS warned.