- Gachagua said chiefs, assistant chiefs, county commissioners, deputy county commissioners, county directors of agriculture and county directors of cooperatives were key to the success of the programme.
- He said previous such programmes were faced with an inadequate supply, long distances to the depots and unaccountability.
Image: PCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said stern action will be taken against people who will be found selling government-subsidised fertiliser in retail stores.
The DP said county commissioners and county directors of agriculture will be held liable for any diverted fertiliser in their jurisdictions.
“We will bring down the cost of food by all means. Hook or crook, the cost of food must come down,” Rigathi vowed.
He spoke on Friday during a meeting convened to sensitise 12 counties on the fertiliser subsidy programme at Kenya School of Government, Nairobi.
Participants included officials from the Council of Governors, National Treasury, Interior, Investment and Co-operatives ministries and National Cereals and Produce Board.
Gachagua said chiefs, assistant chiefs, county commissioners, deputy county commissioners, county directors of agriculture and county directors of cooperatives were key to the success of the programme.
He said previous such programmes were faced with an inadequate supply, long distances to the depots and unaccountability.
“After today’s sensitisation, you will be expected to oversee the smooth implementation of the programme,” the DP told the meeting.
He urged the officials involved in the implementation of the programme to ensure the programme is successful.
“There is always gain whenever people work together,” he said.
“I was assigned this job by the President. Do not let me down because I might lose my job if we fail.”
Gachagua said 1.2 million farmers will be targeted in the first phase of the programme.
“If farmers get the fertiliser, there will be food and it will be easy for you to govern. Nobody wants to govern where there is no food,” he said.
Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui said subsidised fertiliser will go a long way in addressing the cost of living.
“United, we can deliver the results as expected by the President,” Chelugui said.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, who represented the CoG, said counties will play an active role in the distribution of fertiliser.
“We must eliminate brokers and ensure targeted farmers have access to fertiliser,” he said.
In September last year, National Treasury released Sh3.6 billion for subsidised fertiliser, in line with President William Ruto’s directive.
At least five bulk carriers are expected to dock at the Port of Mombasa between Sunday and February 1, bringing in about 136,446 metric tonnes of fertiliser.
During his Jamhuri Day address to the nation on December 12, at Nyayo National stadium, President William Ruto said the government was working with the private sector to import 300,000 tonnes of the key farm input for the next planting season.
This is during the March-April-May long rains seasons.
The fertiliser will be distributed through the National Cereals Board depots and sub-depots countrywide.
The price of planting fertiliser had hit a high of over Sh6,500 while CAN, which is used for top dressing was between Sh6,000 and Sh7,000 depending on the outlets while urea was over Sh7,000 per 50 kg bag.
Under the subsidy, DAP fertiliser will cost Sh3,500, CAN Sh2,875, UREA-Sh3,500, NPK- Sh3, 275 and Sulphate of Ammonia will cost Sh2, 220.