Panic in Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet over fertilizer shortage

Farmers in Kenya’s food basket regions have raised concerns over a shortage of subsidised fertiliser, a situation they say could severely disrupt the ongoing planting season.

For over a week now, farmers from Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, key maize-producing regions, have camped outside the Eldoret National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depot in search of the commodity.

The farmers are now calling on the government to devolve fertiliser distribution to ward level, saying this would ease access and reduce delays. 

“Tumeingia hapa saa tisa usiku mpaka sasa hatujapata. Nashangaa na hii mbolea. Wanasema Uasin Gishu ni basket ya chakula, inakuwaje basket na hauna mbolea? Mimi nimekuja hapa mara nne," said Solomon Kibet, a farmer from Uasin Gishu.

Another farmer, Isaack Kemei, said: “Tunatoka mbali kila siku. Mimi nimekuja siku 10 na hata leo nimefika saa nane usiku. Nasikia usingizi na naweza lia kabisa. Ruto angalia maneno.”

Moiben farmer Mark Kipruto, added: “Nimekuja hapa saa nane kamili na hatujapata fertiliser. Tumelala kwa gate na wakati huu hatuna. Tunarudi nyumbani bure. Naomba serikali iwezee kutusaidia.”

For those who have been lucky enough, the quantity is too small compared to the size of the land they farm. A situation they want the Ministry of Agriculture to resolve with speed.

“Sisi kama wakulima tunapata pneumonia kwa sababu ya kuamka hapa. We are wasting a lot of resources kwa transport kuchukua mbolea. Unakuja, unapewa mfuko 10; you go back for another 10 bags tomorrow," stated Kiprop.

Another Burnt Forest farmer Joel Ngetich said: “Ingekuwa vizuri kama wangeleta mbolea buying centres. From my place mpaka hapa ni 42 kilometres na huwa tunakuja tukirudi.”

A visit to farms in Trans Nzoia County reveals fields already prepared for planting. But without fertiliser, farmers can only wait, hoping the government will move with speed to resolve the shortage and come to their rescue.

“Mbolea mingi ile imekuja ni ya top dressing. So tunataka serikali iletee OCP mbolea ya kupanda. Planting fertiliser ndio inaweka ile root base, so kuchelewa kwa hiyo mazao itafanya hiyo mmea inapomea iwe na weak root system ambayo inaweza athiri mmea. Wakati ile mvua ya upepo inakuja, mahindi inaanguka kwa shamba. So tunataka ile root system ikuue strong," said a farmer from Trans Nzoia ,Jeremiah Njuguna.

Irene Cherono stated: “Tungependa kuomba serikali kama ingeweza kudistribute mbolea mpaka kwa chief ama vile Natembeya anapeana mbegu angekuja na mbolea. Kwa mhindi, mbolea ni expensive, ni 6,000, na kwa mkulima hiyo hatuna.”

Meanwhile, in Kakamega County, detectives from the Operation Support Unit at DCI Headquarters conducted a sting operation in Ejinja, where they arrested eight suspects allegedly repackaging government-subsidised fertiliser.

During the raid, police recovered over 5,000 kilograms of what they believe is genuine and fake fertiliser, empty bags suspected to be used for repackaging, and stamps.

The owner of the residential building where the fertiliser was recovered has, through his lawyer, challenged the manner in which the operation was conducted.

“The arrest process and investigation process must be transparent. It must be a process that individuals who carry it can account for. We are waiting for them to conclude investigations and follow our clients to the police station," stated Abel Nyaberi, the suspects’ lawyer: 

The eight suspects are expected in court on Monday, even as detectives pursue more suspects believed to be involved in the illegal business at the expense of farmers.