Police Net Five Over Fake Fertilizer Seizure
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested five people linked to a major scheme involving adulterated fertilizer after recovering more than four thousand bags in Uasin Gishu County
The haul, totaling 4124 bags of suspected counterfeit urea and DAP, is believed to have been diverted from government-subsidized stocks meant for genuine farmers. Officers from the headquarters Operations Action Team carried out coordinated raids that exposed the scale of the illegal trade.
The first breakthrough came in Kapsubere Village within Moiben Sub-County, where officers arrested Joshua Ngetich, the owner of the homestead used for the activity, along with Lameck Odhiambo. Four other individuals fled into a nearby maize field and remain the subject of an active search. During that operation detectives secured hundreds of bags of the suspect product. The probe then moved to Ziwa Sirikwa, where a store linked to Elphas Bett, still at large, yielded additional bags of branded DAP and Mavuno fertilizer.
A separate but connected operation in the Kabenes area of Soy Sub-County led to the arrest of three more suspects: Rose Chemeli, the owner of the premises, together with Vincent Kibet and Elias Kipkoech. Search teams there recovered approximately 3500 bags of assorted counterfeit fertilizer. All five people now in custody are undergoing processing ahead of their expected court appearance, while the seized materials have been retained as exhibits.
Authorities stressed that the crackdown forms part of a wider effort to protect agricultural production and the livelihoods that depend on it. “The DCI remains steadfast in dismantling criminal networks involved in the manufacture, adulteration and distribution of counterfeit agricultural inputs, safeguarding farmers’ livelihoods and protecting the country’s food security,” the agency stated. Detectives confirmed they are still pursuing other individuals believed to be connected to the same network.
The successful recovery of such a large volume of adulterated fertilizer highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring that subsidized farm inputs reach the people who need them most. By disrupting these operations, investigators aim to reduce the risk of poor harvests caused by fake products and to uphold confidence in official supply channels across the countr
