BY IRENE ONYANGO.
Suspended managing director of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and two other officials of the board have been charged with conspiracy to defraud Kenyan farmers of Sh209 million by selling them fake fertilizer.
Joseph Muna Kimote, John Kiplangat Ngetich and John Mbaya Matiri appeared before Anti-corruption Principal Magistrate Celesa Asis Okore and denied the charges of conspiracy and abuse of office.
The trio were charged alongside SBL Innovative Manufacturers Limited and Fifty-One (K) Ltd and its director, Josiah Kariuki Kimani but he failed to appear in court.
Kimote, Kiplangat and Mbaya are alleged to have conspired between 17th March, 2022 and 8 March, 2024 at unknown place in Kenya, to defraud Kenyan farmers by selling them 139,688 bags of 25 Kgs each of soil amendment and Conditioner valued at Sh 209,532,000 disguised as fertilizer.
Kimote was also accused of using his office to improperly confer a benefit to Kariuki, an offence he allegedly committed on 31st March 2022 as NCPB MD.
The court further heard that Kimote executed an Agency Contract between the NCPA and 51 Capital, African Diatomite Industries Ltd to supply 139,688 Bags of 25 Kgs each of soil amendment and conditioner branded as fertilizer to the state agency.
Kiplangat and Mbaya were charged with improperly conferring a benefit to Kariuki by executing an Agency Contract between the National Cereals and Produce Board and 51 Capital, African Diatomite Industries Ltd to supply 139,688 Bags of 25 Kgs each of soil amendment and conditioner branded as fertilizer.
The fake fertilizer were dispatched at NCPB depots across the country, an offence allegedly committed on 31st March 2024 at NCPB headquarters being the corporate secretary and Chairman of Business Development and Advisory Committee, respectively,
Kariuki’s lawyer Andrew Kabugu asked the court to defer the plea taking, an application that was allowed. He was directed to appear in court on May 6, failure to which a warrant of arrest will be issued against him.
The three were released on a bond of Sh 3 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh 1 million each.
