Cereals board, police confiscate stolen gov’t fertilizer

A security team from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and the Flying Squad have impounded government subsidized fertilizer worth over Ksh 6 million hidden in a private warehouse in Nakuru town.

According to NCPB Chairman Geoffrey King’ang’i, the Ksh 6,309,000 DAP fertilizer was on transit from port of Mombasa to the facility stores in Kitale before a private transporter allegedly diverted and kept it in a hired store owned by Kenya Railways.

He said a whistle-blower noticed the commodity repackaged from the NCPB branded banks to those of Chapa Meli Fertilizer and tipped them off.

A crackdown by the joint security operation netted 2,515 bags branded NCPB and another 990 bags already repackaged.

“Police were called in and confiscated the consignment which in now in the police custody as exhibits. This fertilizer is meant to benefit ordinary Kenyans and it’s unfortunate that cartels have messed up with a genuine exercise,” said King’ang’i.

He said initial investigations established that Wilka Stores, where the consignment was impounded, belong to one Wilson Ndungu. The suspect is said to have been hired to move the fertilizer to Kitale to be distributed to maize farmers.

“There will be a thorough investigation and anybody regardless of the position in NCPB found to have collaborated with the cartels will be dealt with decisively,” said King’ang’i.

NCPB Managing Director Newton Terer asked security agencies to fast track the theft investigations, saying police in the first have failed to bring those involved to book.

The MD revealed that two weeks ago, 4,000 bags of Government DAP fertilizers were impounded in Kitale being repackaged by scrupulous dealers.

In the same period, another consignment of 444 bags was discovered and impounded in Meru.