The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has now cautioned farmers against buying a substandard fertilizer that is in the market.
In a notice to farmers, KEBS said that fertilizer does not meet the set Kenyan quality standard and that it is also not part of the subsidized fertilizer program.
"The product does NOT meet the requirements of the Kenyan Standards for Organic Fertilizer KS 2290:2018.
"It is not part of the government fertiliser subsidy programme," the notice reads.
The standardisation agency insisted that government approved subsidized fertilizer meets all safety and quality standards.
KEBS called on Kenyans to report any instances of suspected substandard products available for purchase, through the KEBS Official App, email – [email protected], Telephone Number - 020 6948000 and Toll-Free Number -1545.
"If you happen to come across a product that does not meet the required standards, we kindly request that you notify us immediately. Your attentiveness is crucial in safeguarding the well-being of our agricultural community.
"We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining high standards for our products," KEBS said.
On Wednesday, KEBS managing director Esther Ngari confirmed that fake subsidised fertiliser is on the market.
The shocking admission was made before the National Assembly’s Agriculture Committee.
It has not been established how much has been sold across the country, complete with KEBS stamps of authenticity.
Some could be sold by private shops.
Ngari told the committee that innocent farmers had been duped into buying the fakes, now confirmed to be Diatomite. The KEBS labels also are fake, she said.
So far the agency has impounded 5,840 bags of the fake fertiliser bearing their standardisation marks.