Tanzania Denies Allegations of Fake Fertilizer Exports to Kenya, “Don’t Associate Us With Hustler Culture.“
Hussein Bashe, the Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture, has addressed the accusations made by well-known Kenyan lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi concerning the source of the counterfeit fertilizer circulating within Tanzania.
Senior Counsel Abdullahi posted on his X account, asserting that based on “actionable intelligence,” the poor-quality fertilizer circulating in Kenyan farms was produced and sourced from Tanzania.
The person commonly known as Grand Mulla took the chance to challenge Kenya’s Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi to explain to Kenyans about “the quarry in Tanzania where goat manure, sand, and stones were combined, and in what proportions.”
He wrote: “I now have actionable intelligence that the fake fertilizer was manufactured/procured from TANZANIA. I challenge Waziri Linturi, National Cereals, and Produce Board, and MEMS to tell Kenyans the quarry in Tanzania where the goat manure, sand, and stones were mixed and in what proportions?”
“Did KRA receive taxes from MEMS or did the fake manure pass through panya routes?”
In response to the allegations, Tanzanian Minister Hussein Bashe initially rejected the accusations emphatically, uncertain at first if the claims were simply typical ‘Kenya-Tanzania’ teasing.
Bashe emphatically declared that Tanzania had no involvement in any fertilizer scandal and emphasized that the country did not export counterfeit goods, including fertilizer, to Kenya.
“Brother, is this comment intended as part of the usual banter between Tanzania and Kenya, or are you serious?” Bashe wondered.
“Tanzania is not connected to any fake fertilizer scandal, so please do not associate us with the popular hustler culture.”
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The minister, who is the Tanzanian MP for Nzega Urban, also stated that the nearby country knows precisely what types of goods have been officially exported by both countries. He added that Tanzania’s trade policies are straightforward and free of deceit or shortcuts.
“Tanzania does not export counterfeit commodities, including fertilizer, to Kenya. We are well aware of the exact nature of the goods our two companies(sic) have exported through official channels,” he said.
“Please address your issues with shortcuts and questionable practices, as our trade policies are governed by principles rooted in integrity.”
Bashe challenged Kenya, urging its authorities to avoid involving Tanzania in a situation they were uninformed about.
“If there is a mess, I recommend you clean it up, do not implicate Tanzania. It is not our way,” he recommended.
The recent scandal involving counterfeit fertilizer has captivated the nation and put the Ministry of Agriculture in a difficult position. Several lawmakers are calling for the resignation or dismissal of CS Mithika Linturi.
On Thursday, Bumula MP Jack Wamboka stated that he had gathered 110 signatures from MPs in favor of an impeachment motion against Linturi.
“You’re well aware of the happenings in this country and the fertilizer scandal and what we have been experiencing, the drama around it. This is not the first time we’ve had scandals around CS Linturi,” the MP noted.
Tanzania Denies Allegations of Fake Fertilizer Exports to Kenya, “Don’t Associate Us With Hustler Culture.“