Police on Monday night April 15, 2024, arrested three suspects and recovered 739 bags of government-subsidised fertilizer.
The three suspects were arrested at a cereal store in Matisi market, Bungoma County.
“Ali Abdi Fatah, Abdi Jabar Hussein and Bonface Ouma Awili were arrested at Baraka shop cereal store within Matisi market along the Kitale-Endebess road,” police said in a statement.
Police said the 739 bags, which were in transit to a neighbouring country, have an estimated value of Ksh1.8 million as per government-subsidised fertiliser price.
The fertilizer was packed in assorted brands.
“The detectives also recovered delivery notes from NCPB Kitale, Malaba, Moi’s Bridge, Isiolo and Maua NCPB depots, whose authentication is underway.
“The scene has been processed by Crime Scene Investigators and all exhibits secured, as the three
suspects await arraignment,” police said.
KEBS
The latest comes after the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) distanced itself from the seized fertilizer in various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots across the country that were flagged as being unsuitable for use.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Livestock last month, KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari stated that the fertilizer in question was neither certified by KEBS nor in the government subsidy program.
“The product being distributed is not certified by KEBS. The product is not in the government subsidy Program as per the information we have,” Ngari stated.
