Nine Charged In Sh3 Million Fake Fertilizer Scam Targeting North Rift Farmers
By Gladys Yator | NAIROBI,
Nine suspects, including a prominent Eldoret trader, have been charged before an Eldoret court over an alleged Sh3 million fake fertilizer syndicate targeting cereal farmers in the North Rift and Western regions ahead of the planting season.
The accused, led by Emmanuel Kipkogei Maiyo, proprietor of Kotut Balers Agro-feeds, denied engaging in illicit trade when they appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Areri.
The court heard that police acting on a tip-off raided the Naiberi-based premises on February 14, 2026, and allegedly found the suspects repackaging contaminated government-subsidized fertilizer. Officers seized hundreds of bags of assorted fertilizer brands stored for distribution.
The suspects sought lenient bond terms, assuring the court they would not abscond. The magistrate granted each a bond of Sh150,000 or cash bail of Sh50,000.
The case will be mentioned on March 11, 2026, and heard on March 29, 2026.
