Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has directed the destruction of 27,518 bags of expired fertilizer stored at various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) facilities across the country.
In an official statement on Thursday, Kagwe assured that the government and the public would not suffer any financial losses, as the fertilizer was supplied on a consignment basis. The supplier will bear the cost of disposal.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has been tasked with overseeing the destruction to ensure proper handling and compliance with safety regulations.
“The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is to supervise the safe destruction of this consignment of sulphate of ammonia (21%) fertiliser that was delivered to NCPB by the supplier between December 27, 2024, and January 6, 2025,” it further added.
The Ministry reported that a shipment of 34,100 50-kg bags was delivered to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) had tested samples and confirmed the fertiliser met Kenyan standards.
“Before finalizing the contract, KEBS collected samples of the fertiliser for testing, and the results confirmed compliance with the standards for Sulphate of Ammonia (21%N) and NPK fertilisers,” the Ministry stated.
However, upon delivery, NCPB observed that the fertiliser had a short shelf life, expiring towards the end of February. The supplier was promptly informed and instructed to provide fertiliser with an extended shelf life.
“Upon supply, NCPB noted the short shelf life, which was to lapse on February 28, 2025, as indicated in the packaging material. The supplier was notified of the same and requested to deliver fertiliser with a longer shelf life, as the entire consignment was unlikely to be sold by the end of February,” it explained.
With concerns by Kenyans rife about the possibility of the fake fertiliser getting into the market, Kagwe moved to reassure citizens that the fertiliser would be secured and destroyed.
“Per standard operating procedures, the unsold fertiliser would not be released to the market and would be safely destroyed,” he averred.
This development follows a series of counterfeit fertiliser scandals in Kenya, notably during the tenure of former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. In March 2024, investigative reports revealed that farmers had been sold substances like soil masquerading as fertiliser, leading to significant losses. This scandal prompted parliamentary investigations and impeachment proceedings against Linturi, although he was ultimately exonerated by a special committee.
In March 2024, President William Ruto and his administration faced intense criticism after reports surfaced that government officials had knowingly distributed fake fertilizer to farmers during the crucial planting season.
The scandal, which implicated the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), was exposed after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) revealed that NCPB officials had conspired to deceive farmers by selling 139,688 bags (25 kg each) of soil amendment and conditioner, falsely labeled as genuine fertilizer. The fraudulent scheme, valued at Ksh209 million, sparked public outrage and condemnation.