President William Ruto on Monday, April 8 ordered the private company exposed after distributing fake fertiliser in the market to compensate all farmers who bought the input immediately.
While speaking in West Pokot, Ruto assured farmers that the government was working to ensure that only genuine fertiliser is sold in the market and all those selling substandard goods would be prosecuted.
“There are some cartels who want to hinder the food production process. I have directed that if farmers bought any fertiliser that was of poor quality should be compensated and given free fertiliser,” he stated.
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.
He further explained that there was enough fertiliser for farmers but added that there was a delay in transportation due to the ongoing war in the Red Sea compounded by other geographical factors.
Ruto revealed that the shipment was being transported to Kenya through South Africa and urged farmers to be patient.
“The war has forced us to take the longer route through South Africa and it has delayed, but we assure that every farmer shall get the right fertiliser,” Ruto added.
Additionally, the President emphasised that the subsidised fertiliser program was in line with the government’s plan to chart a path towards food security.
The program has however faced challenges recently after several Kenyans complained about receiving counterfeit products from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
These allegations came to light after 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.
When the scandal erupted, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi blamed the opposition accusing it spreading a false narrative.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
