'It's insensitive to Nyandarua farmers,' Governor Kimemia faults KFC over potatoes shortage statement

Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said it is "very unfortunate" that KFC cannot source potatoes from local farmers most of whom are grappling with marketing challenges for their products.

"The local franchise of the American fast food chain says that it is unable to satisfy the local demand for chips due to a delay in the shipment of potatoes. This is very unfortunate as potato farmers across the country, moreso in Nyandarua, are grappling with marketing challenges for their produce," said Kimemia.

He added: "As the county with the highest production of potatoes in the country, we find the statement insensitive to farmers who have put every effort into producing quality potatoes."

According to the Governor, the potato sector in Nyandarua is worth an estimated Ksh.10 billion, with an annual production of around 550,000 metric tonnes.

The governor said his administration is willing to engage with KFC on how to assist Nyandarua County farmers get market for their produce.

"My Government is ready to engage with stakeholders - including KFC - on the best possible strategy to assist our farmers. We are ready to facilitate a direct engagement with farmers who can be contracted to give quality potatoes. Such an arrangement will be a win-win situation for both parties," he said.

He, however, called on the National Government to put intervention measures which ensure import of readily available produce is "either prohibited or highly discouraged."

"...a holistic approach is needed to ensure that potato farmers across Kenya reap from their sweat. The National Government, therefore, is duty-bound to protect farmers’ interests by ensuring that imports of readily available produce is either prohibited or highly discouraged," said the Governor.

Over the last two days debate has been raging over the unprecedented shortage of chips at KFC outlets in the country apparently occasioned by delay in delivery of potatoes by the food chain's overseas suppliers.

A section of Kenyans have questioned why KFC cannot give local farmers the tenders to supply potatoes or support the value chain in one way or the other.

Due to global standards, KFC does not source its potatoes locally but instead imports them in large quantities of pre-cut sliced blanched and frozen potatoes.

On Tuesday, however, KFC issued a statement saying there could be an opportunity to source potatoes from local farmers should they meet its global standards.

"Although we currently import our French fries, there is an opportunity to source the potatoes from a local supplier that meets the global KFC quality and safety specifications in the near future," KFC said in a statement. 

KFC, however, noted that at the moment it works with local suppliers on certain items.

"At KFC Kenya, we work with a number of local Kenyan suppliers to serve our customers locally sourced produce and ingredients in our restaurants. These currently include core items including our poultry; fresh vegetables; bread buns; packaging; flour and ice cream to name a few," said the food chain.