Russian Embassy has denied reports that it flagged President William Ruto’s government for selling donated fertiliser.
In a statement dated Friday, September 23, the embassy stated that the fake reports that had gone viral on social media did not emanate from them.
The Embassy called on Kenyans to verify the information before circulating the statement on various social media platforms.
“Many fake reports on Russian fertilizers are circulating on local social media. The Embassy of the Russian Federation hereby requests all users to verify information on fertilizers in Kenya on official media resources of the Embassy,” read the statement in part.
Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin at a past event.
Reuters.
In the fake statement, Russian company Uralchem had reportedly recalled its donated fertiliser as a punitive measure.
“Uralchem runs an anti-corruption policy that applies to all of its entities. The document is aligned with the Federal Law ‘On combating corruption. The policy defines and regulates the key requirements for the Company’s relations with counterparties, partners and government bodies. This policy is binding on all.
“We, therefore, with immediate effect recall the sale of our donations and ask Kenyan farmers to boycott all efforts to sell our donations in the Kenyan market,” read the statement in part.
Reports claiming Ruto’s government sold donated fertiliser went viral a day after DP Gachagua flagged Ksh3.5 billion subsidised fertiliser on September 21.
The roll-out of the subsidised fertiliser was part of Ruto’s pledges to Kenyans in his speech during his September 13 inauguration.
Gachagua stated that the move was aimed at enabling farmers to during the planting season and reduce the cost of living in the long run.
During his inauguration, Ruto reduced the cost of fertiliser from Ksh6,500 to Ksh3,500 per 50 Kg bag.
“For the short rains, we have already made arrangements to make 1.4 million bags of fertilisers available at Ksh3,500 for a 50 kg bag – down from Ksh6,500.
“This fertiliser will be available from next week. I appeal to county governments in East, Central and Western regions to work with us in making sure that this fertiliser is available so that we can begin the journey to increase our food production initiatives,” Ruto stated then.
President William Ruto leaving the country on Sunday, September 18, 2022.
William Ruto
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