Charges in relation to the fake fertilizer scandal, which has been plaguing the nation for approximately two months, will be brought against three managers of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
The three officials—NCPB Managing Director Joseph Muna Kimote, Corporate Secretary John Kiplangat Ngetich, and General Marketing Manager John Mbaya Matiri—will be arraigned on Thursday, according to a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Following a board meeting that Agriculture PS Paul Ronoh attended earlier in the day, the three top officials of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) were taken into custody on Tuesday evening.
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After questioning the three at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters and being escorted to Muthaiga Police Station, the group was taken into custody Tuesday night at approximately 8:00 p.m.
Following a police attempt approved by the DPP to charge them and a well-known businessman in relation to the fake fertilizer scandal, they were arrested.
The allegations pertain to two counts: abuse of office and conspiracy to deceive farmers in a fictitious fertilizer scheme, in violation of sections 46 and 48 of the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act of 2003.
“The charges are contradictory charges...they don’t confer any benefits to my clients. There are procedural and systemic flaws…we will argue in court tomorrow,” said their lawyer Danstan Omari.
Detectives had previously interrogated a number of government representatives from organizations that handled the fake fertilizer, such as the NCPB, KEBS, and suppliers.
The ministry instructed farmers who had bought the tainted fertilizer to stop using it right away and to contact their local NCPB facility for guidance in the middle of March.
Meanwhile, amidst the ongoing investigation into the scandal, the Ministry of Agriculture has instructed NCPB to recall all substandard fertilizers distributed to farmers.
