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President William Ruto has ordered the companies found guilty in the ongoing fake fertiliser probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and parliament to immediately compensate the affected farmer nationwide.
While commissioning the Cemtech Limited Clinker Plant in West Pokot County on Monday, April 8, 2024, the head of state assured that proper legal action will be taken against all those found to have supplied the illicit fertiliser to farmers. He reiterated that he would not tolerate attempts to subvert quality standards in the agricultural sector.
"I have directed that if farmers bought any fertiliser and was of poor quality should be compensated and given free fertiliser," he stated.
Defending the national subsidised fertiliser programme, President Ruto assured that his administration is dedicated to ensuring the steady supply of quality fertiliser to farmers in the country.
Despite admitting to the existence of adequate fertiliser wthin the programme, the head of state noted that more of the commodity is in transit due, citing a few reasons why it is yet to arrive in the country.
He revealed that the commodity will arrive in the country through South Africa.
The announcement by President Ruto comes after two companies were suspended for their involvement in the scandal. 8 KEBS officials have also been suspended and interdicted for allegedly issuing certificates and marks of quality to the two companies.
DCI are investigating how the company managed to obtain quality mark seals from KEBS despite producing substandard fertiliser.
Reports further indicate that over 20 other officials at KEBS are under scrutiny over their involvement in the fake fertiliser scandal.
DCI officers are also exploring options that the two suspended companies may have acted on their own without the knowledge of KEBS officials. The companies may have used a prior approval to repackage and sell substandard fertilers to unsuspecting members of the public.
Parliament has also summoned Agriculture CS Mithika Lintiri, Agriculture PS Paul Rono, Trade CS Rebecca Miano, CEOs of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) and the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) as inquiries into the scandal intensify.