Bags of fertiliser / FILEThe government has clarified allegations about the move to sell to farmers fertiliser donated by the Russian government in August 2023 during the Russia-Africa Summit.
This follows allegations by the impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that the government sold the farm input meant for donations to farmers.
“The Russian government gave us 40,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser but the government blended and sold the donated fertiliser from Russia, which was processed and sold to Kenyans. The fertiliser that came from Russia, which was to be given free of charge, was sold to farmers," he said.
According to Gachagua, the Russian fertiliser was donated to Kenya, rebranded, and then sold to Kenyan farmers at inflated prices.
“These donations were handed to some companies and then resold to the government at market rates, pocketing billions,” he said.
The government admitted that it received 33,835 metric tonnes (approximately 676,700 of 50 kilogram bags) of fertiliser raw materials from the government of Russia.
The fertilizer raw materials comprised Murate of Potash, Urea 46%N and NPK 27:6:6:2S. However, according to the state, the donated fertiliser raw materials were in forms that could not be applied directly by farmers on their crops.
The government says this, therefore, required blending and granulation into crop-specific fertilisers to cover various value chains.
“It became prudent to blend the fertiliser raw materials into crop-specific blends to turn the fertiliser into forms that could be used directly by farmers, increase the quantity and fertiliser varieties suitable for various crop value chains to cover various crops grown nationally, including tea, rice, maize, and horticultural crops,” the statement reads in part.
The government further states that the move increased the number of farmers to benefit from the donation and ensured sustainability of soil health.
According to the statement, out of the 33,835 metric tonnes (676,700 of 50kg bags) of the donated fertiliser raw material, a total of (103,350 metric tonnes (2.068,994 of 50kg bags) of blended crop-specific fertiliser types were produced and distributed to farmers across the country under the National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme (NFSP).
Local fertiliser manufacturers were invited to bid for blending and granulation of fertiliser using the donated raw materials into crop-specific, ready-to-use fertilisers.
In blending the crop-specific fertiliser additional raw materials and micronutrients were added, whose cost, alongside the blending, granulation, and transportation to NCPB depots, was what was paid to the blending firm.
The government, in the statement seen by the Star, states that out of the competitive procurement process, Maisha Minerals and Fertilizers Limited were identified to blend and distribute the fertiliser under the Fertiliser Subsidy programme.
The state said that all 2.07 million 50 kg bags of blended subsidized fertilisers were distributed to registered farmers across the country under the National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme.
