Fake fertilizer, fake seed -Halafu mnasema unga itakuwa 80?

Mwalimu-G

Mwalimu-G

Elder Lister
560 bags of suspected fake fertiliser siezed at Molo NCPB
The street value of the fertiliser is estimated to be Sh1,400,000.
In Summary
  • The operation followed an intelligence report that National Police Service officers received regarding the presence of substandard fertiliser at the National Cereals and Produce Board, Molo depot.
  • The police report further said delivery of the consignment was cancelled after a letter from the Agriculture and Livestock PS Paul Ronoh issued a directive on Wednesday indicating that the fertiliser didn't meet the required standards
Crime scene
Crime scene
Image: The Star
A multi-agency security team in Nakuru has seized 560 bags of suspected counterfeit fertiliser set to be issued to farmers in the region.
The operation followed an intelligence report that National Police Service officers received regarding the presence of substandard fertiliser at the National Cereals and Produce Board, Molo depot.
The multi-agency team comprised the Director of Criminal Investigations Molo, the area Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU) commander, the Assistant County Commander, Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and Anti Counterfeit Agency officials.

"The multi-agency team visited the scene and established that a consignment of 560 bags of fertiliser from a Thika company being transported by a logistics company was to be delivered to NCPB Molo Depot on 21/3/2024 but it was cancelled on the same day at 21:47 Hrs according to NCPB-Agriculture Value chain Vouchering online system," a police report filed at Molo police station stated.
The police report further said delivery of the consignment was cancelled after a letter from Agriculture and Livestock PS Paul Ronoh issued a directive on Wednesday indicating that the fertiliser didn't meet the required standards
"Surprisingly, another consignment of 560 bags of fertiliser also from the same Thika company was delivered to Molo NCPB."
The scene was processed by the Crime Scene Investigation team from Nakuru Region.
The 560 bags of the suspected fake fertiliser are stored in Molo Police station as exhibits and are being guarded by DCI officers Molo.
The street value of the fertiliser is estimated to be Sh1,400,000.
The delivery note document has been seized and kept as an exhibit.

One suspect was placed in custody pending arraignment.
 
Mwalimu-G

Mwalimu-G

Elder Lister
www.citizen.digital

Agriculture CS Linturi says probe launched into fake fertiliser scandal

Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi has said that the government has launched investigations into the alleged fake fertiliser that was distributed recently to farmers in different parts of the country.
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The probe began after two farmers from Poror Village reported purchasing a total of 34 bags of counterfeit NPK fertilizer in March/POLICE
NATIONAL NEWS
Shock As Police Uncover Rocks, Salt Licks Disguised As Govt Fertilizer
The Sub County Security Committee, led by DCC Koibatek, inspected the bags brought and informed the Manager, NCPB Koibatek, to recall all 2,650 bags already supplied to farmers.

By
BRUHAN MAKONG
Published
8 hours ago




https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2024/03/shock-as-police-uncover-rocks-salt-licks-disguised-as-govt-fertilizer/#disqus_thread
NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 23 — Detectives in Baringo’s Koibatek Sub-county have commenced a probe into the sale of fake subsidized fertilizer from the region’s National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) Depot.
The probe began after two farmers from Poror Village reported purchasing a total of 34 bags of counterfeit NPK fertilizer in March.
The victims told police that the fertilizer, branded KELGREEN, which cost them Sh89,600 contained stones and cattle salt licks upon inspection
“Some of the samples brought to the DCI office at Koibatek have granules resembling cattle licking salt and black stones and others have goat or sheep hair,” a police report shared on Saturday indicated.
The Sub County Security Committee, led by DCC Koibatek, inspected the bags brought and informed the Manager, NCPB Koibatek, to recall all 2,650 bags already supplied to farmers.
The incident coincides with a recent exposé by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) revealing a separate case of substandard fertilizer supplied to NCPB.
Documents tabled before the National Assembly Agriculture Committee by KEBS on March 20, 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.
Rampant fraud
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, to NCPB stores.
“During our surveillance, we sampled the product that was being sold in agrovets and finally got intelligence that the product was being supplied through NCPB stores. Test reports showed the product failed on organic matter,” Ngari said.
KEBS said it launched a probe following a tip-off from the public, seizing 5,840 bags in a surveillance raid.
Following the intelligence, NCPB sampled the product in over 59 ware stores across the country which led to the suspension of the product permits amid fears that the product may still be in circulation.
“We haven’t received any communication from NCPB regarding this particular matter even as they were distributing,” Ngari stated.
Soy MP David Kiplagat raised eyebrows on how the NCPB ware stores across the country were distributing fake fertilizers unknowingly
“What’s the relationship between KEBS, NCPB and SBL-Innovate manufacturers? Did NCPB seek assurance from KEBS that the product was certified before distributing? he posed.
KEBS asserted that it had initiated legal proceedings against SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited even as it remained unclear on the product quantity in the market.
 
shocks

shocks

Elder Lister
Ile ya kariandusi was just the tip of the ice berg, farmers last year complained sana kuhusu quality of fertilizer, seems it fell on deaf ears. Yaani kebs, ministry and DCI had to wait for Allan Namu to investigate
 
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