After the lengthy fake fertiliser saga that has been on since mid-March following rampant discoveries and seizures of what is suspected to be counterfeits under the disguise of the ones distributed under the government subsidy programme, the state is now on the neck of KEL Chemicals Limited as a culprit in the counterfeit fertiliser operations.
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, the government has banned the operations of the ISO-certified fertiliser manufacturer based in Thika town in Kiambu County, consecutively flagging three of its productions under the brands Kelphos Plus, Kelphos Gold and NPK 10:26:10 for not meeting the required standards in both quality and composition after testing and analysing them.
“Following the release of test results by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the government has taken decisive action to safeguard the agricultural sector and farmers by announcing the immediate suspension of KEL Chemicals’ operations and seizure of its fertiliser products,” the Ministry said Friday after the completion of fake fertiliser tests done at National Cereals Produce Board (NCPB) facilities in the country, which are the storage, distribution and selling points of the farm inputs under President William Ruto’s subsidy programme.
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Fertilisers are a source of important and absent nutrients for the agricultural soil, but despite the prohibitions, the Ministry says, KEL Chemicals Ltd had already distributed the fakes to NCPB between March 5 and 10, and some farmers had already bought them, warning against further use of the defective products.
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development strongly advises farmers who have acquired or possess fertilisers from KEL Chemicals to immediately discontinue its use and to visit their nearest NCPB facility for further guidance,” it said, as highlighted in a notice statement to the public.
In its dedication to upholding the law, the Ministry announced that KEBS had instituted a legal action against KEL Chemicals Ltd for violating the consumer protection regulations as per the Standards Act Cap 496 by dealing in fake, substandard goods of poor quality that not only have health and safety risks but also with negative economic impacts.
“This is to ensure that the farmers are protected against unscrupulous industry players and to preserve the safety and quality of the food supply chain. We thank the farmers and all stakeholders for participating in large numbers to support the food security agenda for the country,” the statement further reads.
Last month, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) impounded 700 bags of fake fertiliser in Kakamega, and 560 other bags were seized in Nakuru before they scheduled delivery at Molo NCPB stores.
A little far from this, in January, the police recovered 252 bags of subsidised government fertiliser in Narok County that had been stolen and kept in Grace Covenant Church in Ololulunga. The suspect was arrested, apprehended and later released on Ksh500,000 cash bail pending investigations.
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