Give New Ones For Free- Ruto Orders Company In Fake Fertiliser Saga To Compensate Farmers
The Head of State added that the said company would face the law for distributing counterfeit and risking the lives of Kenyans in the process.
Marvin Chege 
President William Ruto has issued a tough directive to a private company exposed for distributing fake fertiliser in the market in a bid to have farmers affected by the saga compensated.
Speaking during the launch of the Cemtech Limited Clinker Plant in West Pokot County on Monday, April 8, the Head of State assured farmers that they will get the genuine fertiliser sold in the market courtesy of the government, which will also ensure that all those selling substandard goods would be prosecuted.
"Every farmer will get the correct fertiliser. Some cartels want to hinder the food production process.
President William Ruto during an impromptu visit to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Eldoret Depot on April 8, 2024. /PCS
"Those few people who want to take advantage of food production, the company that was involved, should compensate farmers who bought fake fertiliser and they should be given new fertilisers free of charge," he said.
The Head of State added that the said company would face the law for distributing counterfeit and risking the lives of Kenyans in the process.
The directive came following allegations of fake fertilizer in circulation, a matter which put the subsidised fertiliser program in jeopardy after several Kenyans complained about receiving counterfeit products from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
Farmers' woes intensified following an an investigative piece by journalist John Allan Namu who exposed a company packaging sand and selling it as genuine fertiliser.
While responding to the concerns, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) revealed that the said company was not part of the government subsidy program.
The government on its part confirmed the existence of the fake fertilizer with the Ministry of Agriculture moving to suspend distribution of the vital farm input by KEL chemicals, a supplier of the counterfeit fertilizer, pending legal action.
On Friday, Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi ordered the suspension and seizure of Kelphos Plus, Kelphos gold, and NPK 10:26:10 fertilizers saying they did not meet all required test parameters.
“Following the 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,” CS Linturi stated.
The government also suspended eight KEBS officials accused of issuing certification and marks of quality to two companies that have been linked to the sub-standard fertilizer.
Other officials believed to have played a part in the saga have also been lined up for questioning as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives struggle to get at the bottom of the matter.
Bags of fertiliser stored at a National Cereals and Produce Board warehouse. /KENYA NEWS AGENCY
