8 charged with theft of Government fertilizer worth Sh 27M.

Eight people have been charged in court for stealing 5,060 bags of government-subsidized fertilizer worth Sh 27.8million.The eight, Joseph Muthama Wamakau, Stanley Musyoka Mumo, Martin Munyao Kioko, Eric Kiarie Ng’ang’a, Beatrice Mwikali Ishmail, Fredrick Gateri, Joseph Muthama Matheka and Antony Ngei Kimuyu were charged of stealing the said fertilizer on diverse dates between March and April 2023.The 5,060 bags had been dispatched from the Kenya National Trade Corporation warehouse in Mombasa and were destined for the bulky maize production regions of Western and North Rift.They also faced another charge of stealing 560 bags of subsidized fertilizer valued at Ksh 3,080,000 the property of Kenyan Government in transit from Mombasa to the National Cereals and produce board Fort Tenan Depot.Most of the suspects are transporters and were picked by DCI officers from Mombasa and transported to Nairobi under tight security for grilling.Appearing before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina at Milimani Law Courts, the suspects denied the charges and pleaded with the court to release them on lenient bond terms.The court released them on Ksh 600,000 bond with an alternative cash bail of Ksh 200,000.The move followed KNTC officials claim that eight lorries each carrying 560 bags of 50kg fertilizer had vanished with the cargo.The managers said they had dispatched 10 lorries between April 28 and May 25 but realized the eight were missing. This prompted police action.The fertilizer subsidy program is a multi-agency exercise led by the Ministry of Agriculture and supported by NCPB, KNTC, the Presidency, Kenya Railways, security agencies and county governments.