FAKE FERTILIZER PROBE

Eight Kebs officials suspended over fake fertiliser fiasco

The eight were among those grilled by the DCI on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

In Summary
  • Officials said they had summoned all those bearing responsibility for the acquisition and supply of the fertiliser.
  • Detectives have summoned for grilling a number of officials from government agencies that handled the fake fertilizer in circulation.
A bag suspected to contain fake fertilizer.
A bag suspected to contain fake fertilizer.
Image: HANDOUT

At least eight senior officials at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) have been suspended over the fake fertiliser fiasco.

This will be pending the ongoing probe into the matter by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives and Parliament.

Officials said the eight were interdicted over the issuance of certification and marks of quality to two companies, which have been linked to the sub-standard fertiliser.

The eight were among those grilled by the DCI on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Detectives have summoned for grilling several officials from government agencies that handled the fake fertiliser in circulation.

Officials from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) are expected at the DCI headquarters, Kiambu Road for grilling on Monday.

Officials said they had summoned all those bearing responsibility for the acquisition and supply of the fertiliser.

The DCI after completing the investigation will forward the file to the DPP.

The Ministry of Agriculture said Friday they had completed the testing on all fertilisers being distributed under the subsidy programme.

A statement said all fertilisers being distributed meet the required quality requirements except those manufactured and distributed by one company that did not meet all required test parameters.

Following the release of test results by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, the statement added, that the government has taken decisive action to safeguard the agricultural sector and farmers by announcing the immediate suspension of the suspected chemical firm's operations and seizure of its fertiliser products.

The ministry told farmers who have acquired or possess fertiliser from the suspected chemical firm to immediately discontinue its use and to visit their nearest NCPB facility for further guidance.

Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh has confirmed plans for thorough scrutiny of the entire fertiliser supply chain warning of tough legal action against those found culpable.

"We are going to replace the fertiliser with the right fertiliser because it is under investigation for the farmers who have used the fertilisers already we have also analysed the missing component in those fertilisers which shall be addressed by top dressing fertilisers," Ronoh said.

On the magnitude of the impact, he said: "The impact is very negligible, very insignificant because we arrested this very early. These are the counties which started planting in March counties in the South Rift or North Rift."

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