A five-member committee that was set up by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has been accused of colluding with a Saudi-based multi-national firm to ensure that it landed a lucrative multi-billion deal.
Reports by The Star claimed that the committee, in 2018, recommended the lowering of cadmium levels in fertilizers acceptable for usage in the country be lowered from 30 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm.
This effectively handed Maaden (a Saudi mining company) the reigns as Kenya's sole fertilizer supplier, with none of the other players being able to meet the new Kebs requirements.
The committee's chairperson, Henry Ogola, who is reportedly Maaden's local agent, allegedly championed for the new regulations.
However, Mr Ogola has since gone on to assert that he was in no way in charge of setting standards, adding that the mandate fell squarely at the hands of Kebs.
“What I can say is that I am a fertiliser expert with so many multi-national companies across the globe. It is the work of Kebs and not me to set standards,” he divulged.
The new directive effectively led to the collapse of local suppliers thus leaving the fate of Kenyan farmers in the hands of a monopolistic foreigner that enjoyed the autonomy to dictate prices.
Farmers are alleged to have been crippled by the ever-rising fertilizer prices since Maaden landed the mega-deal.
The current high price of fertilizers has inevitably cost the country in terms of comparative advantage compared to its neighbours as it has translated to an increased cost of production and consequently an increase in prices.
Kebs gazetted the new requirements of the level of cadmium that is acceptable in fertilizers to be used within the country's borders on February 23, 2018.
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