Court Frees Five Suspects Arrested With 4,000 Bags of Suspected Fake Fertilizer Worth Ksh.24 Million in Eldoret
Five suspects who were arrested in connection with 4,000 bags of suspected fake fertilizer worth over Ksh.24 million in Eldoret have been released unconditionally by a court, in a ruling that has raised fresh questions about the fight against counterfeit farm inputs.
Senior Chief Magistrate Peter Ndwiga ordered the release of Rose Jemutai, Elphas Kiptoo Bett, Hillary Samoei, Hillary Kipkoech and Vincent Kibet when they were presented before the Eldoret Law Courts for mention of their case.
The five had been arrested last month in a high-profile intelligence-led operation at Kabenes village in Soy Sub-County, Uasin Gishu County, where detectives uncovered a massive consignment of fertilizer suspected to be counterfeit.
Magistrate Ndwiga ruled that there was no sufficient evidence presented to continue holding the suspects, and directed that samples of the seized fertilizer be taken to the Government Chemist for laboratory analysis to establish whether it is genuine or counterfeit as alleged by the police.
The Magistrate also ordered the unconditional release of a motor vehicle that had been seized from the first accused person during the raid.
According to police reports tabled in court, the first suspect, Rose Jemutai, is the owner of the homestead where the illegal repackaging was allegedly taking place. Investigators allege that the suspects were repackaging expired fertilizer into new bags branded as popular fertilizer brands before selling it to unsuspecting farmers across the North Rift.
The arrest followed a tip-off from members of the public who became suspicious of activities at the homestead. A multi-agency team comprising officers from Uasin Gishu County and the DCI Headquarters Operations Action Team raided the home and recovered the 4,000 bags.
Police believe the suspects are part of a well-organized criminal syndicate that takes advantage of the planting season to defraud farmers by selling substandard and expired farm inputs.
The release comes barely two weeks after detectives in a separate operation in Moiben Sub-County recovered 624 bags of suspected counterfeit fertilizer. During that operation, four suspects escaped and are still at large.
In the Moiben operation, detectives also recovered 64 bags of DAP fertilizer branded as Elgon Kenya and 10 bags of Mavuno fertilizer, each weighing 50 kilograms, from Ziwa Sirikwa area.
The rising cases of fake fertilizer in the region have caused panic among farmers, with many now calling on the government to tighten surveillance and ensure only certified inputs reach the market. Leaders in Uasin Gishu have also demanded speedy investigations and prosecution to protect farmers from exploitation.
Police say investigations are still active and they are awaiting the government chemist’s report before taking further legal action.
