Three NCPB managers in fake fertiliser scandal to be arraigned tomorrow

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) announced that the three officials among them NCPB Managing Director Joseph Muna Kimote, the Corporate Secretary John Kiplangat Ngetich, and John Mbaya Matiri, the General Marketing Manager will be arraigned on Thursday.

On Tuesday evening, the three top officials of the national cereals and produce board NCPB were apprehended after a board meeting attended by Agriculture PS Paul Ronoh earlier that day. 

The trio were taken into custody around 8:00 pm Tuesday after being interrogated at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters and later escorted to Muthaiga Police Station.

Their arrest comes after the DPP-sanctioned police effort to charge them, alongside a prominent businessman, in connection to the fake fertiliser scandal. 

The charges involve two counts: conspiracy to defraud farmers in a fake fertilizer scheme and abuse of office, contrary to 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.

Previously, detectives had questioned several government officials from agencies involved in handling the counterfeit fertilizer, including those from the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), NCPB, and suppliers. 

In mid-March, the ministry directed farmers who had purchased the compromised fertilizer to stop using it immediately and seek guidance from their nearest NCPB facility. 

Meanwhile, amidst the ongoing investigation into the scandal, the Ministry of Agriculture has instructed NCPB to recall all substandard fertilizers distributed to farmers.