Eight arraigned in Eldoret over adulteration of subsidised fertiliser as police hunt for prime suspects

Eight people have been arraigned over allegations of adulterating subsidised fertiliser and repackaging it for sale to farmers in North Rift.

Senior resident magistrate Daniel Sitati granted the police seven more days to detain the suspects in order to complete investigations and to arrest prime suspects described as the “big fish” involved in the fertiliser scam.

The eight are said to be workers arrested at a store in Naiberi Centre near Eldoret, where they were allegedly found mixing fertiliser with chemicals and repackaging it for sale.

Those presented before the court are Wycliffe Okudi, Samwel Juma, Vitalis Ojuki, Stephen Vigiza, Patrick Mutai, Gabriel Walunyo, Daniel Solano and Kevin Wangila.

The suspects were represented by lawyer Jepsongol Tallam, who asked the court to release them on bond, arguing they could not interfere with investigations as claimed by the prosecution in its application to detain them.

“Your Honour, these suspects are just small fish in the fertiliser scam and their release will have no bearing on investigations. They are innocent workers who were following instructions from their boss,” Tallam said.

Inspector of Police Joyce Tungei, the investigating officer in the case, asked the court to allow the police to continue holding the suspects and provided details on how they were arrested.

“The respondents herein are persons of interest in respect to the investigations into the offence of being in possession of counterfeit goods,” she said.

According to Tungei, the offence was allegedly committed on diverse dates between February 13, 2026 and February 14, 2026, at the Naiberi area within Eldoret town, where the suspects were caught adding iron oxide black to OCP fertiliser before repackaging it into 50kg DAP fertiliser sacks.

She said the incident was reported at Naiberi police station on February 14, 2026, by members of the public vide OB entry No. 28/14/02/2026, and that the suspects were arrested on the same day within Naiberi shopping centre while repackaging OCP fertiliser into DAP fertiliser sacks.

The officer told the court that 750 sacks weighing 50kg each and containing the counterfeit fertiliser were recovered, along with empty DAP fertiliser sacks, OCP fertiliser sacks and wheat bran empty sacks.

Tungei said investigators required more time to complete inquiries because crucial witnesses were yet to record statements, some exhibits were yet to be recovered, and part of the consignment had already been distributed to the market.

She noted the main suspect had yet to be arrested and that the recovered fertiliser needed to be subjected to forensic analysis by the Government Chemist.

The officer further said part of the counterfeit fertiliser had already been distributed to markets in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Narok counties, adding that the offence under investigation amounted to a serious crime of economic sabotage, with fears that farmers could incur heavy losses.

Magistrate Sitati acknowledged the seriousness of the alleged offence but directed the police to expedite investigations and ensure the prime suspects are arrested to face justice.