Editor's Review

Farouk regretted that farmers were being supplied with fake farm inputs. 

President William Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet wants Kikuyu MP and the National Assembly majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah to lead the probe into the fake fertiliser scandal.

In recent days, the country was shocked by a revelation by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) that the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots were stocking bags of substandard fertiliser.

The quality assurance agency went ahead to revoke the standardisation marks of the companies supplying the bogus farm inputs.

Reacting to the development, Farouk called for the prosecution of the suppliers, tasking the Kikuyu MP with leading the process.

President Ruto's aide Farouk Kibet.

"The government issued fertilisers under the subsidy programme but there are cartels selling fertiliser laced with soil. We want the police to arrest those suppliers. This goes to MP Ichung'wah," said Farouk.

This came days after President Ruto issued a warning to the suppliers selling fake seeds and fertilisers to farmers saying the government would deal with them.

The Head of State noted that security officials have already arrested individuals taking advantage of the subsidised fertiliser programme to sell fake fertilisers to unsuspecting Kenyans.

“We are also going to ensure that those who sell fake seeds of fake fertilisers face the music that they deserve. Just today we have arrested some of the characters who want to take advantage of our fertilizer supply and programme and we have many more in court because we must eliminate corruption,” Ruto added.

He further attributed the shortage of subsidised fertiliser to the ongoing conflict at the Red Sea that has delayed supply to Kenya.