The multi-billion fake fertiliser scam has come back to haunt senior officials at the Ministry of Sgriculture after the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture summoned Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi and Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh on Monday next week, April 8, 2024
Members of the National Assembly are intensifying efforts to uncover shadowy tenderpreneurs behind the fake fertiliser syndicate that was supplied to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots across the country without being flagged by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to the detriment of suffering farmers who have since lost their hard earned money to unscrupulous traders.
Linturi and Rono are expected to provide names of individuals behind the counterfeit fertiliser and how they infiltrated NCPB stores by bypassing requisite inspection and verification process by the authorities.
Recently, Linturi publicly dismisses the nationwide outcry terming it as propaganda insisting that there is no fake fertiliser in the market despite the overwhelming evidence.
Additionally, the committee will hear from NCPB Managing Director Joseph Kimote and Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Managing Director Theophilus Mutui regarding the fraudulent fertilizer within the fertilizer subsidy program.
Committee Vice Chair Brighton Yegon emphasized the need for compensating farmers who suffered losses due to the use of counterfeit fertilizer and holding accountable the fraudulent suppliers.
“The key question this committee seeks to answer is how the fake fertilizer managed to reach NCPB stores, particularly if officials were aware of its counterfeit nature.” Yegon said.
An earlier meeting to investigate the matter was postponed due to the unavailability of involved parties, except for the Managing Director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards.
Yegon further announced that the committee plans to meet with SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited, the producers of GPC Plus Organic Fertilizer, on April 9, 2024.
MPs will also conduct field visits to various NCPB depots nationwide to ascertain the availability, fairness in distribution, pricing, and quality of the fertilizer sold.
The findings from the agricultural committee’s probe and field visits will inform a report proposing stern recommendations for approval by the House.
Yegon emphasized the gravity of the issue, stressing its potential impact on the government’s efforts to ensure food security in the country.
Matayos MP Geoffrey Odanga raised concerns about Agriculture CS Linturi’s denial of the existence of fake fertilizer in the country despite KEBS flagging counterfeit fertilizer in multiple regions.
“We are aware of individuals aiming to sabotage the country’s food security by using such fertilizer to profit from potential food shortages.” Odanga said.
He criticized the government’s handling of the fertilizer shortage issue and called for urgent measures to support farmers facing challenges.
