A section of Kenyans has raised questions over the 34,000 tonnes of free fertiliser that the Kenyan government received from Russia as a donation to boost food production after a video emerged of President Vladimir Putin listing the beneficiaries of the inputs on Wednesday, August 2.
Vocal government critics and some opposition figures have claimed the government sold the same fertilisers to farmers at a subsidised rate instead of distributing it for free as required by Russia.
Putin in an address to African leaders at the just concluded Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, said that Kenya and Malawi were the first beneficiary of the fertilisers and more countries could soon join the list.
"President Putin says Russia gave Kenya 34,000 metric tonnes of Free fertiliser. Question to Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, where is the donation?" Former Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando posed.
Putin in his statement insisted that the fertiliser was supposed to be distributed to farmers for free, which further raises questions as to where the large consignment went.
"President Vladimir Putin donated over 30,000 metric tones of free fertilizer to Kenya and he insists it should have been provided to farmers free of charge," Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Phillip Etale stated.
Putin's Statement
During the Russia-Africa Summit, Putin announced that his government had exported 10 million tonnes food and farm inputs to the poor countries.
He noted that 262,000 tonnes were still stuck in European ports as a result of the sanctions imposed by the West.
"Russia opted to participate in the grain deal bearing in mind that it has the commitment that legitimate impediments will be lifted for the supplies of our grain and fertiliser to global markets, let me state that this is what the assistance to develop poorest countries is about," he stated.
The Russian President claimed that it was the West that interfered with the supply chain of goods to Africa while accusing the Asian country of causing a global food crisis.
Ruto's Promise
Questions over the whereabouts of the fertiliser donated by Russia came even as the government promised to expand the subsidy programme to benefit more farmers.
On Wednesday, August 2, President William Ruto promised a further drop in the prices of fertilisers. Ruto announced that a 50kg bag of fertilisers will decrease from Ksh3,500 to Ksh2,500 in the next season.
"Since fertiliser is the game changer of agricultural productivity, this should translate to higher production in the next planting season. I encourage farmers to embrace better and greater use of fertiliser to increase yields in the coming seasons," he stated.
Russia's Fertiliser Deal
On May 31, 2023, the 34,000 tonnes was received by Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi and Russian Ambassador to Kenya, Dmitry Maksimychev at the port of Mombasa.
The CS noted that the fertiliser would be reformulated to produce 100,200 tonnes before it was transported by Standard Gauge Railway and made available to farmers within weeks.
