Senior Gov’t Officials Among 5 Charged With Theft Of Subsidized Fertilizer Worth Over Ksh.65M
Five individuals are charged in two separate cases before the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi with allegedly conspiring to defraud the Kenyan government of millions of shillings worth of subsidized fertilizer.
The initial case involves public service employees Kipkorir Ronald Tanui and Edwin Ombui Oseko, who are jointly accused of conspiring to defraud the government of Kenya out of 19,913 sacks containing 50 kilograms of subsidy fertilizer, with a combined value of Ksh.49,789,500.
The two individuals are additionally accused of abuse of office. Assistant Director of Information Communication Technology Kiprotich Ronald Tonui is purported to have suggested that Wilson Letunya Mempe be registered as a farmer at Meleo in Narok, where he possesses 1,800 acres of land utilized for agricultural purposes.
As a consequence, Letunya redeemed 7,200 sacks of subsidized fertilizer with a combined value of Ksh.18 million; this action negatively impacted the Agriculture and Livestock Department.
Furthermore, Kiprotich is charged with endorsing the registration of Wilson Sesat Marindany as a farmer operating 1,200 acres of land in Sogoo, Narok, for crop farming purposes. This registration would have required the aforementioned individual to redeem a cumulative sum of Ksh.12 million worth of fertilizer weighing 50 kilograms per bag.
Principal Agricultural Officer and Head of the Fertiliser Unit at Kilimo House Edwin Ombui Oseko is alleged to have directed a junior officer in the ICT department to register Benjamin Mosbey Ruto as a farmer with 1,000 acres of land at Ololulung’a in Narok. In exchange, the individual allegedly redeemed Ksh.10.7 million worth of government subsidy fertilizer in a total of 4,304 bags.
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However, neither of the two government employees entered a plea on Friday, as Edwin was absent from court.
Kiprotich, who was present in court, is currently released on a police surety of Ksh.100,000. Pleadings are scheduled for the two individuals on November 27, 2023.
Bimack Kipchirchir, Samuel Kipkosgei Kugo, and Harry Kiprop are charged in a separate file with conspiring to defraud the government of Ksh.15,370,000 worth of 6,150 sacks.
Kipchirchir stands accused of procuring 3,349 sacks of fertilizer valued at Ksh.8,522,500 from multiple National and Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and Kenya National Trading Cooperation depots in Kenya between September 4 and October 16, 2023. It is alleged that he owned 750 acres of land in Narok for this purpose.
Regarding Kipkosgei, he is alleged to have fabricated the ownership of a 600-acre parcel of land in Kilgoris, Narok, from August 3 to September 23, 2023, in exchange for 2,801 sacks of subsidy fertilizer valued at Ksh.7 million.
Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi of the Milimani Law Courts, who presided over the proceedings, ruled that the three defendants must post a Ksh.8 million bond with one surety each or Ksh.4 million in cash bail.
The issue will be deliberated upon for pre-trial purposes on December 8, 2023.
Senior Gov’t Officials Among 5 Charged With Theft Of Subsidized Fertilizer Worth Over Ksh.65M
