- A raid in Kakamega has exposed suspected diversion of subsidised fertiliser into a counterfeit packaging operation.
- Two lorry drivers have been arrested as investigators pursue others linked to the alleged racket.
- The Anti-Counterfeit Authority has warned that illegal farm input trade threatens farmers’ livelihoods and food security.
Officers from the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) have uncovered a suspected racket in Matungu, Kakamega County, where fertiliser meant for struggling farmers was allegedly being diverted and sold for profit. The raid netted 323 bags of repackaged fertiliser worth more than Ksh 1.6 million.
Alongside the bags, enforcement officers impounded two loaded lorries and industrial packaging equipment. They believe the machinery was used to run the illegal operation.
Early findings point to a carefully planned scheme. Fertiliser meant for the government subsidy programme was allegedly siphoned off and poured into fake bags carrying the Falcon brand. The goods were then to be sold to unsuspecting farmers at normal commercial prices, meaning the subsidy intended to cut their costs would have ended up in the pockets of the culprits.
Two lorry drivers were arrested during the operation. They are now helping police with their inquiries. Meanwhile, investigators are hunting for other people suspected of playing a part in the network.
The case has sharpened worries about how subsidy programmes can be exploited. It also highlights the growing danger that counterfeit farm inputs pose to farmers, honest traders and the country’s food security.
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ACA Executive Director Robi M. King’a said the diversion of subsidised fertiliser works against the government’s effort to make farm inputs cheaper and easier to get. He added that the practice goes beyond the violation of intellectual property rights. According to him, it also distorts fair competition, exposes farmers to products that may be substandard and threatens both productivity and the nation’s food supply.
King’a stressed that tighter market surveillance, intelligence driven enforcement and closer cooperation among government agencies are needed to break up illegal supply chains. He said the Authority will not allow counterfeiters to exploit systems that were designed to support agriculture, adding that safeguarding the supply chain is vital to protecting farmers’ livelihoods.
On his part, ACA Western and Nyanza Regional Manager Tom Muteti promised more enforcement operations across the region. He warned that illegal diversion and repackaging of farm inputs puts livelihoods at risk and holds back efforts to raise output. Sustained surveillance, shared intelligence and coordinated action, he said, remain critical in tracking down and dismantling the networks behind the trade.
For now, the seized fertiliser, lorries and equipment have been secured as exhibits while investigations continue.
Finally, the Authority has urged farmers, input dealers and the public to stay alert when buying agricultural products. It asked them to report any suspected counterfeiting, illegal repackaging or diversion of subsidised fertiliser.
By Benedict Aoya
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