KENYA – KEL Chemicals Limited, the company at the centre of the ongoing fake fertilizer probe by Parliament, has pledged to compensate farmers supplied with the alleged substandard fertilizer from the company.
In a letter directed to the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, KEL stated that the company will conduct a thorough investigation and analysis of the presented batch, which will then enable the company to replace the product depending on the outcome of the analysis.
The announcement comes days after the Ministry of Agriculture suspended the company’s operations after its fertilizer brands failed tests conducted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
The government also asked farmers to discontinue three fertilizer brands from the company, which were labelled Kelphos Plus, Kelphos Gold, and NPK 10:26:10m amid the safety controversy.
Despite the dispute, KEL has pledged to compensate any farmer who comes forward with a complaint of receiving substandard fertilizer.
The company outlined a process for complaints, requiring details such as batch numbers, delivery information, and the delivery date.
“Any product still within the control of the company is detained and segregated. Any products returned are clearly marked ‘NOT FOR SALE’,” the firm stated.
The company has, however, strongly refuted the claims of producing substandard fertilizers, stressing that the claims are inaccurate.
According to KEL, they have already received positive results from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) early last month, confirming their claim.
“On 3rd April 2024 the company received positive results as to the samples of the fertilizer following an independent application for analysis to KEPHIS Analytical Laboratory on 21st March 2024 as those sent to KEBS have gone unanswered till today,” the company said.
The company has also termed the government’s move to suspend its operations as unfair, highlighting that its application for analysis with KEBS remains unanswered
They argue that the government’s focus should be on identifying the source of the substandard fertilizer, not on harassing company officials.
“We have noticed that instead of training efforts to establish the origin of the alleged substandard fertilizer, the company officials have been subjected to harassment and intimidation by a collective effort of certain members of the executive,” the company asserted.
For all the latest grains industry news from Africa, the Middle East, and the World, subscribe to our weekly NEWSLETTERS, follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
