Russian Fertilizer to Kenya Raises Questions
A portion of Kenyans has raised questions about the 34,000 tonnes of free fertilizer the Kenyan government received from Russia as a donation to increase food production after a video of President Vladimir Putin cataloging the recipients of the inputs was released on Wednesday, August 2.
Government critics and opposition figures have asserted that the government sold subsidized fertilizers to farmers instead of disseminating them for free, as Russia requires.
In a speech to African leaders at the just-concluded Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Putin stated that Kenya and Malawi were the first recipients of the fertilizers and that additional nations could soon be added to the list.
“According to President Putin, Russia gave Kenya 34,000 metric tons of fertilizer for free. “Ask Agriculture Minister Mithika Linturi where the donation is.” Former Mukurweini representative Kabando wa Kabando posed for a photograph.
Putin insisted in his statement that the fertilizer was to be given away for free to farmers, which raises additional concerns as to where the large shipment went.
Phillip Etale, communications director for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), stated, “President Vladimir Putin donated more than 30,000 metric tons of free fertilizer to Kenya, and he insists that it should have been given to farmers for free.”
Putin’s Declaration
Putin announced during the Russia-Africa summit that his government had exported 10 million tonnes of food and agricultural inputs to developing nations.
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He noted that 262,000 tonnes were still stranded in European ports as a consequence of Western sanctions.
“Russia chose to participate in the grain deal because it has the assurance that legitimate obstacles to the export of its grain and fertilizer to global markets will be removed,” he said. “This is the purpose of assistance to develop the poorest countries.”
The Russian president claimed that the West was responsible for interfering with Africa’s supply chain while blaming Asia for the global food crisis.
Ruto’s Guarantee
Even as the government promised to expand the subsidy program to benefit more farmers, questions arose about the whereabouts of the fertilizer donated by Russia.
President William Ruto vowed a further decrease in fertilizer prices on August 2, 2013. In the next season, the price of a 50-kilogram container of fertilizer will decrease from Ksh3,500 to Ksh2,500, as announced by Ruto.
“Since fertilizer is a game-changer for agricultural productivity, this should increase yield during the next planting season. I urge farmers to increase and improve their use of fertilizer to increase yields in the upcoming growing seasons, he said.
Russia’s Fertiliser Transaction
Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi and Russian Ambassador to Kenya Dmitri Maksimychev received the 34,000 tonnes at the port of Mombasa on May 31, 2023.
The CS noted that the fertilizer would be reformulated to produce 100,200 tonnes before being transported by Standard Gauge Railway and made available to farmers in a matter of weeks.
Russian Fertilizer to Kenya Raises Questions
