The Ministry of Agriculture has taken decisive steps in response to the ongoing investigation into substandard fertilizers distributed to farmers, unveiling a compensation plan and intensifying scrutiny of the supply chain.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh affirmed the ministry’s commitment to replacing the fake fertilizers and addressing the concerns of affected farmers: “We are going to replace the fertilizer with the right fertilizer because it is under investigation for the farmers who have used the fertilizers already we have also analyzed the missing component in those fertilizers which shall be addressed by top dressing fertilizers.”
In light of the unfolding scandal, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has summoned Josiah Kimani Kariuki, director of SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited, for questioning.
This move follows the suspension of KEL Chemicals’ operations and seizure of its products after they failed to meet quality standards, as confirmed by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Ronoh emphasized the severity of the situation, warning of legal repercussions for those found responsible: “What you will be hearing are people in court, people in jail, and some disappearing and the reason is we cannot allow our food basket to be messed by a few individuals.”
The DCI’s summoning of Kariuki underscores the gravity of the investigation.
In response to the allegations, Kariuki maintains the legitimacy of his company’s operations, citing proper licensing procedures: “We applied for the license through KEBS, they went to the factory, took a sample, and asked me to send a methodology of what I was doing; I sent it, they came back and said you can start your business and that’s how I started.”
His legal representative, Danstan Omari, asserts their readiness to cooperate with authorities and provide the necessary information.
Amidst legal maneuvers, Kariuki secured anticipatory bail from the High Court, arguing that he is being unfairly targeted by competitors: “That competition is what has made them seek somebody to cling on to say that this is the person distributing fake fertiliser.”
However, the broader implications of the scandal extend beyond legal battles, prompting calls for increased awareness and vigilance among farmers from various quarters of leadership.
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