The OWNER of a company banned for distributing fake fertilizers in the country, yesterday surprised the MPs when he admitted that he has no knowledge about the type of fertilizer he has been selling to the government.
Mr Josiah Kariuki, who is the managing director of SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited, told the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture that he went to the National Cereal Buying Council (NCPB) on March 20, 2022 for a commercial space to distribute fertilizers.
This is after using fertilizer from African Diatomite Industries Limited (ADIL), which did well in its farm located in Rumuruti, Laikipia County.
Despite the controversy that would later arise, Mr Kariuki was awarded the tender by the NCPB.
He told the committee, led by MP John Mutunga (West Tigania) that, in collaboration with ADIL and his other company—51 Capital Kenya— they entered into a tender agreement with NCPB on March 31, 2022 to distribute three types of products.
Capital 51 Kenya was officially registered on February 6, 2020.
The products they agreed to distribute are equipment to provide livestock such as 51 capital animal supplements, GPC-Guard and diatomaceous at the rates of sacks of 25 kg at the price of Sh1,800, Sh1,950 and Sh1,500 respectively.
The three products were to be sold by NCPB at a price of Sh1,980, Sh2,145 and Sh1,700 respectively.
The contract was to last for two years while the products were evaluated every six months. That would determine whether or not the bid would continue.
However, Mr Mutunga told Mr Kariuki to explain to Parliament how his company ADIL entered into a contract with NCPB without any legal agreement.
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