Farmers across the country have faced shortages of subsidised fertiliser, prompting the government to intensify action against traders illegally selling the inputs for huge profits. Officials say such schemes not only hurt farmers but also threaten national food and nutrition security.
On March 13, 2026, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, warned that the subsidy programme is meant to make farm inputs affordable and boost agricultural productivity, not to line the pockets of unscrupulous middlemen.
“The Government’s fertiliser subsidy programme is meant to lower farm input costs and strengthen food and nutrition security, not enrich a few greedy middlemen,” he said on X.
In a recent operation in Kuresoi South, Nakuru County, authorities arrested a hardware shop owner and a lorry driver for diverting subsidised fertiliser.
Police, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Interior Ministry officials, recovered 140 bags from a hardware store in Keringet, including NPK, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), Urea, and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), all marked with National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) logos.
Deputy County Commissioner Malak Namai said the shop had earlier received 600 bags from the local NCPB depot. Farmers revealed they were forced to buy the diverted fertiliser at Sh6,000 to Sh7,000 per bag—almost three times the government rate of Sh2,500.
The Ministry of Agriculture said the arrests are part of a larger campaign to protect the subsidy programme. Authorities are continuing investigations to track down additional suspects involved in the illegal trade.
“To the illegal traders, your time is up. Stop exploiting farmers and undermining Government programmes, or be prepared to face the law. We shall continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement,” Kagwe said.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, assuring that anyone caught will face legal consequences.
“Let this be clear; This is an act of economic treason, and anyone sabotaging this programme, we are coming for you,” he added.
