Amid rising tensions between Nairobi and Moscow, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has revealed a startling discrepancy: 564.1 metric tonnes of raw fertiliser worth approximately Ksh197 million, donated by Russia last year, vanished before reaching Kenya's National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). 

This alarming discovery raises suspicions of possible theft and deepens the diplomatic strain between the two nations.

The missing fertiliser consignment was part of a larger donation of 34,400 tonnes of raw fertiliser material from Russia. This contribution was part of Russia's strategy to gain African support amid its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. 

The fertiliser was intended to bolster Kenya's agricultural output by tripling the production of ready-to-use fertiliser for distribution to farmers nationwide. The fertiliser could have been applied to between 15,000 and 30,000 acres of land.

Nancy Gathungu's audit report, released on Sunday, June 30, disclosed that the 564 tonnes of fertiliser disappeared en route to Kenya, never making it to the port of Mombasa. 

The public auditor noted, "NCPB received 33,835.9 metric tonnes, hence a short landing of 564.1 metric tonnes from the 34,400 metric tonnes donated by Russia. The cause of the short landing was not explained."

The 564 tonnes of missing raw fertiliser could have produced 1,643 tonnes of ready-to-use product, valued at Ksh197 million. This shortfall in supply has significant implications, given that Russia's donation aimed to produce 100,200 tonnes of fertiliser after reformulation, addressing the soaring global prices of fertiliser inputs.

The Russian Embassy in Kenya had highlighted the importance of this donation, stating in August last year that the 34,400 tonnes would significantly aid Kenya in achieving a good harvest. 

The revelations come at a time of increasing friction between Kenya and Russia, exacerbated by Nairobi's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. This diplomatic tension adds another layer of complexity to the mystery of the missing fertiliser.

Further compounding the issue, the NCPB has failed to provide a comprehensive financial report on the cost of purchasing and importing the fertiliser used in President William Ruto’s fertiliser subsidy programme. 

The Auditor General's report criticises the NCPB for its lack of transparency, noting that the board has not detailed the costs associated with the raw material, including shipping, transportation, and handling costs. 

"However, other costs associated with the raw material of fertilizer such as shipping cost, transportation cost from the port to the granulator, and handling costs were not disclosed and therefore it is not clear how much the Board was incurring per 50 kg bag," wrote Gathungu.

Already, young Kenyans last week demanded that Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi resigns over the fertiliser fiasco that saw farmers receive substandard fertiliser.