Tanzania’s Minister for Agriculture Hussein Bashe has dismissed claims that the fake fertilizer in Kenya originated from their country.
In a statement on Thursday, April 25, Bashe said Tanzania does not export counterfeit commodities to Kenya.
The Tanzanian Agriculture Minister explained that only two Tanzanian companies export fertilizer to Kenya through official channels“Tanzania is not connected to any fake fertilizer scandal, so please do not associate us with the popular hustler culture. Tanzania does not export counterfeit commodities, including fertilizer, to Kenya,” Bashe stated.
He added, “We are well aware of the exact nature of the goods our two companies have exported through official channels. Please address your own issues with shortcuts and questionable practices, as our trade policies are governed by principles rooted in integrity.”
The Tanzanian government official further asked Kenya not to implicate their country in the fake fertilizer scandal.His statement came after Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi claimed that he received intelligence that the fake fertilizer was manufactured and procured from Tanzania.
“I challenge Waziri Linturi, National Cereals, and Produce Board and mems to tell Kenyans the quarry in Tanzania where the goat manure, sand, and stones were mixed and in what proportions? Did KRA receive taxes from mems or did the fake manure pass through panya routes?” Ahmednasir posed.
The ongoing fake fertilizer scandal has forced the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) to compensate armers who bought substandard fertilizer.
NCPB Managing Director Joseph Kimote on Wednesday announced all farmers who have utilized the fertilizers and NCPB has verified that they procured them from their stores will be issued with an equivalent amount of the top-dressing fertilizer.
Farmers who were yet to use the substandard fertilizer were asked to lodge formal complaints by filling out a Claim Declaration Form that will be provided at the depot or selling center where they bought the fertilizer.
The farmers were asked to present their original national ID cards and evidence of purchase including the exhibits where applicable
