Five Suspects in Eldoret Fake Fertilizer Case Freed Unconditionally
The consignment, valued at over Ksh.24 million, had been seized at Kabenes area in Soy Sub-County.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The case involving the seizure of 4,000 bags of suspected counterfeit fertilizer in Uasin Gishu County has taken a dramatic twist after an Eldoret court released five suspects linked to the multi-million shilling consignment.
Chief Magistrate Peter Ndwiga freed the suspects unconditionally when they appeared before him for mention of the case, dealing a blow to the multi-agency team that had mounted an intelligence-led operation to dismantle the alleged fake fertilizer network.
The suspects, identified as Rose Jemutai, Elphas Kiptoo Bett, Hillary Samoei, Hillary Kipkoech and Vincent Kibet, were set free as police continue with investigations into the matter. The consignment, valued at over Ksh.24 million, had been seized at Kabenes area in Soy Sub-County.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ndwiga directed that samples of the seized fertilizer be taken to a government chemistry laboratory for forensic analysis to confirm whether the farm input is indeed counterfeit as alleged by the prosecution. He also ordered police to release a motor vehicle that had been impounded from the first suspect during the operation, without any conditions.
According to court documents, the first suspect, Rose Jemutai, is the owner of the homestead where the alleged repackaging of expired fertilizer was taking place. The suspects were arrested last month following a tip-off from members of the public who raised alarm over suspicious activities in the area.
The operation was conducted by detectives from Uasin Gishu County in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters Operations Action Team, who raided the homestead and uncovered a large stock of fertilizer suspected to have been repackaged for distribution to unsuspecting farmers in the North Rift region.
Police told the court that the syndicate is believed to be part of a larger organized criminal network that has been targeting farmers during the planting season by selling expired and substandard fertilizer rebranded as genuine products from reputable companies.
This latest development comes just two weeks after detectives recovered 624 bags of suspected counterfeit fertilizer in a separate operation in Moiben Sub-County. In that incident, four other suspects linked to the consignment escaped during the raid and remain at large.
During that operation, detectives later extended the search to Ziwa Sirikwa area where they recovered an additional 64 bags of DAP fertilizer branded Elgon Kenya and 10 bags of Mavuno fertilizer, each weighing 50 kilograms, bringing the total seizure to 624 bags.
The incident has sparked outrage among farmers and leaders in the region who have called on the government to intensify the crackdown on fake farm inputs, which they say threaten food security and cause huge losses to farmers.
Police say investigations are still ongoing and they will act based on the laboratory results.
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