Speaking during a church service at the ACK Diocese of Kirinyaga in Ndia Constituency on Sunday, March 29, Gachagua claimed the government had abandoned its responsibility to support farmers despite earlier assurances that subsidised fertiliser would be available.
According to the former deputy president, farmers across the country are struggling to access the crucial farm input, forcing many to buy fertiliser at high commercial prices from private agrovet shops.
“We are facing a serious crisis in the agricultural sector,” Gachagua told congregants. “The president announced that there were two million bags of fertiliser in the stores, but today farmers cannot access even a single bag.”
Gachagua criticised the government for what he termed misplaced priorities, accusing President Ruto of focusing more on political activities than addressing pressing national issues such as agriculture and healthcare.
He argued that the shortage comes at a particularly difficult time when farmers are preparing their farms following the onset of the long rains.
“The planting season has already started and the rains are here, yet farmers have no fertiliser,” he said.
“They are now forced to buy fertiliser at about KSh6,500 per bag instead of the government-subsidised price of around KSh2,500.”
The former deputy president further dismissed claims that global conflicts and international supply disruptions were responsible for the shortage, insisting the government had simply failed to plan properly for the planting season.
According to him, farmers from various parts of the country—including regions considered political strongholds of the president—had raised concerns about the scarcity of fertiliser.
Gachagua also claimed that government stores managed by the National Cereals and Produce Board were empty, leaving farmers with limited options as they prepare their fields.
Beyond agriculture, the former deputy president raised alarm over what he described as an impending crisis in Kenya’s healthcare sector.
He warned that the Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), could collapse within months if urgent financial challenges are not addressed.
“I have information that SHA could collapse within the next six months,” he said. “If that happens, the health sector will face a crisis of unknown magnitude.”
Gachagua alleged that hospitals, particularly faith-based medical institutions, are owed billions of shillings in unpaid claims, placing them under severe financial pressure.
He urged hospitals to demand settlement of the pending payments before continuing to offer services under the scheme, warning that the failure to release the funds could lead to disruptions in healthcare services across the country.
The government has previously maintained that it is committed to supporting farmers through fertiliser subsidy programmes.
The former deputy president further dismissed claims that global conflicts and international supply disruptions were responsible for the shortage, insisting the government had simply failed to plan properly for the planting season.
According to him, farmers from various parts of the country—including regions considered political strongholds of the president—had raised concerns about the scarcity of fertiliser.
Gachagua also claimed that government stores managed by the National Cereals and Produce Board were empty, leaving farmers with limited options as they prepare their fields.
Beyond agriculture, the former deputy president raised alarm over what he described as an impending crisis in Kenya’s healthcare sector.
He warned that the Social Health Authority (SHA), which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), could collapse within months if urgent financial challenges are not addressed.
“I have information that SHA could collapse within the next six months,” he said. “If that happens, the health sector will face a crisis of unknown magnitude.”
Gachagua alleged that hospitals, particularly faith-based medical institutions, are owed billions of shillings in unpaid claims, placing them under severe financial pressure.
He urged hospitals to demand settlement of the pending payments before continuing to offer services under the scheme, warning that the failure to release the funds could lead to disruptions in healthcare services across the country.
The government has previously maintained that it is committed to supporting farmers through fertiliser subsidy programmes.
In late 2025, President Ruto announced plans to distribute more than 12 million bags of subsidised fertiliser in 2026 as part of efforts to boost food production.
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