Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has escalated demands for a thorough investigation into allegations of counterfeit fertilizer, urging the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to act swiftly. Cheruiyot denounced those implicated as economic saboteurs and stressed the importance of holding them accountable under the law.
Addressing a gathering in Bomet, the senator urged the Director of Public Prosecutions to prioritize the matter and initiate an inquiry to prosecute those responsible.
“We cannot permit cartels to dominate us. The DPP should have already instructed the EACC to apprehend any individual, entity, or business linked to the production of such fraudulent fertilizer,” Cheruiyot emphasized.
Acknowledging the government’s subsidy program, Cheruiyot commended the significant increase in harvest within the region during the last season, attributing it to governmental intervention. He expressed concern that certain individuals profiting from the fertilizer industry were dissatisfied with the success of the program.
“As a community heavily reliant on agriculture, last year we cultivated over 200,000 hectares, thanks to government intervention. This is why certain stakeholders in the industry are discontent,” he remarked.
Cheruiyot also urged fellow lawmakers to safeguard vital government programs from derailment, citing affordable housing and universal healthcare as examples.
Meanwhile, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi urged the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to disclose the suppliers implicated in the fertilizer scandal.
“We implore the NCPB not to procrastinate, as they possess knowledge of the supply chain and can identify the origin of the tainted fertilizer. Let us ensure that justice is served upon these individuals,” Mudavadi stated.
Assuring farmers, Mudavadi reiterated the government’s dedication to protecting the supply of subsidized fertilizer from disruption by unscrupulous traders attempting to infiltrate the local market. He emphasized the peril to the nation’s food security posed by those involved in the scandal.
“There are critical sectors such as food production, including fertilizer and seed distribution. As a government, we will not tolerate any actions jeopardizing our nation’s food security,” he affirmed.
Recently, a joint security operation in Nakuru confiscated 560 bags of suspected counterfeit fertilizer following intelligence reports received by National Police Service officers regarding substandard fertilizer at the National Cereals and Produce Board’s Molo depot. The operation involved various agencies including the Director of Criminal Investigations in Molo, the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU) commander, the Assistant County Commander, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), and officials from the Anti-Counterfeit Agency.
