Fertiliser cartels are jeopardising President William Ruto's programme to boost farming through affordable fertiliser. Police arrested 10 suspects over the past two weeks, including eight on Saturday in Kakamega. The activities have caused shortages in areas like the Rift Valley and Western Kenya.
President William Ruto's fertiliser subsidy programme, launched in 2022, has distributed 21 million bags, including three million in the past three months, according to Ministry of Agriculture records. This year targets 12.5 million bags, following seven million in 2025. Farmers receive allocations via e-vouchers based on registered acres per planting season. However, cartels collect the subsidised fertiliser from government depots, repackage it, add chemicals to mimic pricier types like DAP, and resell at Sh7,300 to Sh7,600 per 50kg bag—double the official price. Over the past two weeks, police arrested 10 suspects in the Rift Valley and Western regions. On Saturday, a DCI operation in Kakamega's Ejinja, Rurambi, nabbed eight and uncovered a repackaging hub: two vehicles loaded with fertiliser, 39 bags of OCP Africa TSP relabelled as GK, 48 bags disguised with colour, and three sewing machines. Two more were arrested a week earlier in Kereinget, Kuresoi South, Nakuru County, with one still at large. DCI confirmed collusion by NCPB staff in Webuye and Voi with the cartels. Ruto has warned repeatedly that perpetrators will face arrest and prosecution, while Agriculture Minister Mutahi Kagwe and Permanent Secretary Dr Paul Kipronoh Ronoh cautioned against activities harming food production and sales.