NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 23 — National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi has called for the resignation of Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi and his Trade counterpart Rebecca Miano if they won’t resign over the circulation of fake fertilizer.
In a statement on Friday, Wandayi accused the CSs of perpetuating economic sabotage by allowing repeated instances of fake fertilizers and seed scandals.
He also demanded the resignation of top officials at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to allow for investigations.
Wandayi urged President William Ruto to move quickly and ensure the CSs and responsible procurement officers bear “full responsibility” for their actions.
“Right in the middle of the planting season, the sector is awash with one scam after another, ranging from availability to pricing to quality of farm inputs, particularly seeds and fertilizers,” he said.
“They must immediately quit their positions and pave the way for proper and professional investigation.”
Wandayi urged the government to devise new ways to procure, secure, and distribute quality fertilizers and seeds to farmers.
He proposed a Kenya Defence Forces-led procurement and distribution of seeds and fertilizers since the institutions in charge of supplying and procuring the products have failed to do so responsibly.
Wandayi made the demand after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reported the seizure of fake fertilizer in Kakamega and Baringo.
DCI agents seized 700 bags of suspected fake fertilizer in Kakamega and nabbed a consignment of 560 bags in Baringo.
Substandard fertilizer
Documents tabled before the National Assembly Agriculture Committee by KEBS on March 20 showed how SBL-Innovate Manufacturer Limited supplied substandard fertilizer dubbed ‘BL-GPC’ for over a year undetected.
KEBS said the firm applied for certification on January 13 and secured approval on January 28, 2023.
KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari said an assessment of 59 sample bags obtained from different NCPB locations in Kakamega, showed the fertilizer was not of the organic type the firm was authorized to provide.
“The fertilizer had high levels of PH, is dolomite in nature as it is composed of calcium, magnesium and carbonate whose purpose is to only act as a soil conditioner yet the required fertilizer in the Kenyan soil is organic fertilizer that is required to add nutrients and sustain growth,” said Ngari.
“The product being distributed is not certified by KEBS. The product that KEBS initially certified is different from what has been seized… and condemned as substandard and thus not suitable for sale.”
KEBS said that despite not knowing the exact number of products on the market, it has filed a lawsuit against SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited.
“We have written to the Director of Public Prosecution so that we can be able to prosecute the matter under the standard act,” said Ngari.