Govt Stops Distribution Of Substandard Fertilizer Supplied To NCPB

The Ministry of Agriculture has asked farmers to discontinue three fertilizer brands by KEL Chemicals after the affected labels failed tests by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

“ALL Fertilizers being distributed meet the required quality requirements except those manufactured and distributed by Ms KEL Chemicals branded Kelphos Plus, Kelphos gold and NPK 10:26:10, which did not meet all required test parameters,” Kilimo House said in a statement on Friday.

It said the government had instituted corrective measures to prevent further distribution of affected brands, circulated between March 5 and 10, 2024.

“The Government has further seized and impounded all fertilizer stocks distributed by KEL Chemicals at the National Cereals Produce Board (NCPB) facilities,” the ministry stated.

Further, the ministry said KEBS had instituted legal action against KEL Chemicals for violating standards requirements.

“In line with ensuring public safety and maintaining quality standards, KEBS has initiated legal action against KEL Chemicals for distributing substandard products as per the Standards Act Cap 496.”

“This measure underscores the Government’s commitment to upholding stringent product quality and safety standards, ensuring accountability and safeguarding the agricultural sector and the wider public,” Kilimo House indicated.

The response by the Mithika Linturi-led ministry came a day after the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture served him yet another invitation to respond to concerns over the distribution of fake fertilizer.

The Committee slated Linturi to appear on April 8 after he failed to honour an earlier invitation on March 20.

Substandard fertilizer

Members of the committee held a session with KEBS which revealed certification violations.

KEBS accused a Kenyan-based regional fertilizer merchant of fraud after it emerged the firm supplied substandard fertilizer to NCPB.

Documents tabled before the National Assembly Agriculture Committee by KEBS 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 told MPs that initially, the company had complied with all requirements which prompted the agency to issue them permits to supply organic fertilizer but later committed fraud by violating the standards.

The standards agency certified SBL-Innovate Manufacturer to supply organic fertilizer but the firm supplied diatomite, which relies on a biologically generated form of Silica to enhance soil conditions, Ngari told lawmakers.

She said KEBS picked the brand during surveillance operations after learning the product’s circulation in NCPB stores.

“Test reports showed the product failed on organic matter,” Ngari said.