DCI Plans Arrests of Top Principal Secretary and Two Parastatal Chiefs Over Fake Fertiliser Scandal
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is going to arrest a senior Principal Secretary and two parastatal heads in connection with the fake fertilizer scam.
The PS, who is on the EACC’s radar and originates from President William Ruto’s area, is alleged to have played a key part in the importation and distribution of substandard fertilizer.
One of the targeted chief executive officers (CEOs) leads an agricultural parastatal, while the other manages a trade-related strategic agency.
The PS and the two CEOs in issue are believed to have been directly engaged in the importation of the fertilizer, which was later proven to be phony, due to their positions and the responsibilities their offices played in the importation of the substandard fertiliser.
The three, as well as others suspected of involvement in the shipment of substandard fertilizer, might be detained as soon as next week, since investigations are almost completed.
A high-ranking DCI official told People Daily that they were particularly interested in how the phony fertilizer made its way into National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) outlets.
“We are aware that there is a Mr Kariuki who was involved in the scandal but we want establish whom he was working with both in the ministry and the two parastatals in question,” said the source.
He continued: “We know there were many people involved and these are the individuals we are zeroing on.”
He said that heads would tumble beginning next week when investigations identify the criminals engaged in the scam, which has placed ministries under the jurisdiction of the agricultural and standards dockets.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) announced last week that hundreds of packets of improper fertilizer had been detained.
The finding has sent shockwaves among farmers preparing for the planting season. The DCI said that they already had solid evidence to nail the perpetrators.
Kebs said that it had so far collected 5,840 25kg bags of substandard fertilizer from different NCPB facilities around the nation.
Officials from the standards agency informed MPs last week that the substandard fertilizer is still in circulation throughout the nation.
The phony fertilizer is marketed under the name GPC and sold by SBL-innovate Manufacturers Ltd.
In Other News: Court Clears Way For Governor’s Removal Over Decamping To UDA
DCI Plans Arrests of Top Principal Secretary and Two Parastatal Chiefs Over Fake Fertiliser Scandal
