The commercial licence that KEL Chemicals had been operating under was promptly cancelled by the Ministry of Agriculture.
As a result of claims that the firm situated in Thika furnished farmers with fertilisers that did not meet the required standards as part of the government’s fertiliser subsidy plan, this judgement was made.
The decision to revoke the licence was made after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi conducted a comprehensive examination of the company’s manufacturing facilities on Friday.
Throughout the course of his tour, Linturi examined the procedures involved in the production, mixing, packing, and distribution of the fertiliser that is distributed to farmers throughout the country.
“The licencing of KEL Chemicals has been revoked, and this location has been declared a place of criminal activity. I would want to check this information.” Linturi made the announcement that there would be no more activities carried out at this location until the probe into this situation is completed.
Farmers in the nation are receiving counterfeit fertiliser, according to the government, which has acknowledged the existence of this phenomenon.
The confirmation that was given on Friday, April 5, occurred in the midst of misunderstanding and double-speak about the existence of unworthy fertiliser and how it had been distributed.
Following the failure of tests carried out by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Ministry of Agriculture issued a warning to farmers, encouraging them to stop using three different brands of fertiliser that were provided by KEL Chemicals. This order was given while the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed the existence of the substandard fertiliser.
In a statement that was issued on Friday, Kilimo House noted that “all fertilisers that were handed out meet the minimum quality standards except those manufactured and distributed by KEL Chemicals branded Kelphos Plus, Kelphos Gold, and NPK 10:26:10, which did not meet all required test parameters.”
Following the original denial of complaints about the quality of fertiliser distribution by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi as nothing more than propaganda, the government has now admitted that the fertiliser in question is of a poor grade.
The matter has been reevaluated as a result of later developments, despite the fact that Linturi had previously taken a position that defended the authenticity of the method of delivery on earlier occasions.
The National Development Implementation Committee (NDIC) issued an order on Friday, March 29, which led to the verification of the delivery of fertiliser that did not meet the required standards.
During the first meeting of the year, which was chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, the committee met for the first time and voiced their worry about the problem.
“As a precautionary measure, the National Agricultural Policy Board (NCPB) has been instructed to cease all the delivery of fertiliser until the probe has finished and an assessment is supplied,” the committee stated in a press release, referring to the nation’s dedication to adhering to agricultural standards and providing assistance for farmers across the country.