Kenyan President demands compensation for farmers suffered from fake fertilizer

Kenyan President William Ruto has mandated compensation for farmers negatively impacted by counterfeit fertilizer. Addressing the public in West Pokot on Monday, the President highlighted the necessity for the company implicated in distributing the fake fertilizer to rectify the situation by providing farmers with new, legitimate fertilizer at no cost.

“Every farmer will get the correct fertilizer. 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,” President Ruto articulated, underscoring his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the agricultural sector.

Further emphasizing the Kenyan government’s support for farmers, President Ruto assured the availability of an adequate supply of fertilizer for agricultural activities. He unveiled plans to further decrease fertilizer prices as a measure to support and stimulate agricultural productivity across the nation.

In an effort to ensure the swift distribution of this essential agricultural input, President Ruto made an unexpected visit to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Eldoret Depot yesterday. During his visit, he instructed the management of NCPB depots across the country to accelerate the process of distributing subsidized fertilizer to farmers, ensuring they have timely access to these critical resources for food production.

Additionally, President Ruto issued a stern warning against those engaging in the illicit trade of fake agricultural inputs, stating unequivocally that such individuals would face legal consequences. This firm stance highlights the government’s resolve to combat fraud within the agricultural sector and to protect farmers from exploitation.

In a related development, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has initiated legal proceedings against KEL Chemicals, the company responsible for the distribution of the counterfeit fertilizer. This legal action follows the revelation that KEL Chemicals distributed substandard fertilizers under the government’s subsidy program, which failed to meet the required quality standards. The implicated brands, Kelphos Plus, Kelphos Gold, and NPK 10:26:10, distributed between March 5 and 10, were found deficient in meeting the necessary test parameters.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced the immediate suspension of KEL Chemicals’ operations and the seizure of its fertilizer products. This decisive government action, reinforced by Kebs’ legal proceedings, underscores a rigorous commitment to maintaining quality and safety standards in agricultural inputs. Farmers in possession of fertilizers from KEL Chemicals have been advised to cease its use and seek guidance from the nearest National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) facility.

As the investigation into this matter deepens, both the National Assembly and Senate committees on Agriculture have called upon key officials, including Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi and representatives from Kebs and the Kenya National Trading Corporation, for a comprehensive review of the fertilizer subsidy program. This scrutiny aims to identify lapses and ensure such breaches of trust do not compromise the nation’s food security and agricultural standards.