Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to test impounded fertiliser

Sacco officials from Eldoret listen to proceedings during a sensitisation workshop on road safety in Eldoret yesterday. The project was organised by KEBS and the Trade Mark East Africa. Kebs MD Mr Charles Ongwae called on the Matatu owners to fit certified speed limiters to reduce cases of road carnages. [PHOTO: ELIUD KIPSANG/ STANDARD]

Uasin Gishu: The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) will conduct laboratory tests on over 7,000 tonnes of fertiliser imported from China that was impounded at the port of Mombasa.

KEBS Managing Director Charles Ongwae said in Eldoret that they had impounded the fertiliser after suspicion the commodity is substandard and is likely to have detrimental effects if used by farmers.

This comes after the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) that imported the consignment rejected a portion of it claiming it did not meet the required standards after receiving complaints from farmers.

Disputable quality

On Tuesday, NCPB confirmed it had stopped the consignment ship from releasing the fertiliser for the Government-subsidised programme alleging its "disputable" quality.

NCPB through a statement revealed they had offloaded 5,000 metric tonnes out of the total consignment of 7,260 which was part of the additional 2,100 metric tonnes of the planting fertiliser received earlier.

" KEBS impounded the fertiliser and we will not release it until we ascertain that it meets the Kenyan standards of food production and environmental safety," said Mr Ongwae.

Ongwae added that samples have already been taken to laboratories for approval and the fertiliser will either be re-exported or destroyed if it doesn't meet the basic standards.

NCPB earlier stated that an analysis by Intertek Testing Services of Mombasa show the remaining batch had a moisture content of 1.7 per cent instead of 1.5 per cent and it was lumpy.

"The issue is critical, keeping in mind fertiliser is used to produce food thus directly touches on human and livestock health," Ongwae said.

The standoff between the ship captain and NCPB has prompted the National Assembly's committee on agriculture led by Vice chairman Kareke Mbiuki, Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali and his counterpart Fred Outa to pick up the matter.

Establish dealers

The legislators decried the increasing cases of substandard fertiliser and sugar in the country and vowed to go to the port to establish the dealers and the architects behind the vice.

Ongwae was addressing Public Service Vehicles stakeholders in a meeting convened in conjunction with the National Transport and Safety Authority.

It was facilitated by Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) and Ongwae called on the investors to purchase certified speed limiters to reduce on road carnage and also cut down on vehicle maintenance costs.

TMEA Country Director Chris Kiptoo reiterated the need to observe set standards across all sectors as it is key in achieving national development goals through trade, transport and other sectors.