This archive report was first published on 5 January 2022.
KFC's Potato Importation Sparks Outrage, Wakes Up National Potato Council of Kenya ¶
January 5, 2022, marked a turning point for the National Potato Council of Kenya (NPCK) as Kenyans took to social media to express their discontent with KFC's decision to import potatoes from abroad.
According to a statement by KFC, the company currently imports its French fries, but there is an opportunity to source potatoes from a local supplier that meets the global KFC quality and safety specifications in the near future.
However, this statement has been met with skepticism by many, who argue that KFC should be sourcing its potatoes from local farmers. The issue has sparked a heated debate about the potential for local farmers to supply the food chain.
NPCK CEO Wachira Kaguongo has come out in support of local farmers, stating that Kenya's lands are rich and fertile enough to support different potato strains. He also highlighted that local farmers are already cultivating approximately 62 varieties of the food crop.
NPCK's main responsibility is to help plan, organize, and coordinate potato value chain activities with the aim of developing the sub-sector into a competitive and self-regulated industry.
Wachira Kaguongo has called on the government to support the cultivation of the food crop, emphasizing that it is not practical for Kenyan businesses to import potatoes owing to exaggerated costs when they are locally readily available.
As the controversy surrounding KFC's potato importation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the company will indeed source its potatoes from local farmers in the near future.
