“We had logistical challenges because of the war in Ukraine and had to divert supplies and that has been resolved,” the president said while commissioning the new Cemtech Limited clinker plant in Sebit, West Pokot, an investment of the Devki Group of Companies.
The government has already suspended the operations of Ms KEL Chemicals and ordered the immediate seizure of its fertiliser products sold in the Kenyan market following the completion of tests on all fertiliser distributed to farmers across the country under the subsidy programme.
According to tests conducted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kelphos Plus, Kelphos Gold and NPK 10:26:10 manufactured by KEL Chemicals did not meet the required standards.
The president said he would continue to push for lower fertiliser prices to make farming more profitable. “We do not want to limit this to maize farming. We are widening our range of crops so that our income can increase,” he said.
So far, at least eight senior officials at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) have been suspended over the fake fertiliser fiasco. They will be detained pending the ongoing probe into the matter by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives and Parliament.
Officials said the eight were interdicted over the issuance of certification and marks of quality to two companies, which have been linked to the sub-standard fertiliser.
