The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officials have arrested three people and recovered 739 bags of various fertilizer brands.

According to the DCI, Ali Abdi Fatah, Abdi Jabar Hussein, and Bonface Ouma Awili were detained at the Baraka shop cereal store in Matisi market on the Kitale-Endebess route with fertilizer worth Ksh.1,847,500.

PHOTO | COURTESY Fertilizer

The various brands included 424 bags of Falcon CAN, 43 bags of Tupande, 98 bags of Mavuno, 71 bags of KEL Green NPK (50 kg each), 20 bags of NPSB-OCP, four bags of DAP-OCP, 26 bags of FOMI OTESHA, 34 bags of Simba Urea, 16 bags of FALCON Ammonia Sulphate, and one bag of NAFAKA Plus weighing 50kg.

This comes after a series of thefts of government-subsidized fertilizer from National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) facilities, which are illegally exported.

DCI's Operations Support Unit (OSU) was dispatched and intercepted the suspects as they prepared to transport the fertilizer to the next nation.

PHOTO | COURTESY Fertilizer

The investigators also collected delivery notes from the NCPB Kitale, Malaba, Moi's Bridge, Isiolo, and Maua depots, which are now being authenticated.

Crime site Investigators (CSI) have analyzed the site and secured all exhibits as the three suspects await their arraignment.

The country is embroiled in a dispute over the validity of phony fertilizer sent to farmers under the government subsidy system.