Eight suspects have been arraigned in court in connection with the disappearance of a consignment of subsidized fertilizer.

The incident occurred between April 18 to 27 this year, as the fertilizer was being transported to different destinations in the country

The suspects who were arraigned at the Milimani Law courts yesterday, pleaded not guilty to charges of Conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to section 393 of the penal code and Stealing Goods in Transit contrary to section 297 (c) of the Penal Code. 

The suspects are believed to have taken advantage of the ongoing efforts by the Government to help farmers access the commodity at a reduced cost and diverting the commodity to an unknown destination, prompting swift action by the detectives.

The disappearance of the fertilizer was first reported at Mikindani Police Station by Kenya National Trading Company logistics officer Moses Kata, who is based in Mombasa.

The company had contracted Yellow Arrow Express Limited to deliver 281 tonnes, equivalent to 5,620 bags each weighing 50kgs of the subsidized fertilizer, from warehouses in Mombasa to various destinations in the country.

The consignment was transported in 10 trucks but only two trucks delivered the fertilizer to their intended destination in Kericho and Ol Moran, Laikipia County, as the remaining 8 trucks diverted 4,520 bags to an unknown destination.

Disappearance of the fertilizer was detected on April 29, when KNTC’s logistics manager was informed that a consignment of 560 bags, which had been dispatched on April 27, destined for the National Cereals and Produce Board in Lessos, Nandi County, had not been delivered.

According to the driver of the truck ferrying the 560 bags of CAN fertilizer, he received a call from an unidentified caller posing as an agent of KNTC, who instructed him to stop at a shopping centre 25 kilometres away from Lessos.

The consignment was offloaded and loaded into two waiting trucks after stamping the delivery instruction with a KNTC Eldoret receiver stamp, before the lorries drove off to an unknown destination,

Detectives are yet to establish the whereabouts of the 4,520 bags that disappeared.

So far, 8 suspects including Joseph Muthama, Stanely Muthama, Martin Munyao, and Joseph Muthama have been arrested. Others are Eric Ng’ang’a, Fredrick Gateri, Anthony Ngei and Beatrice Mwikali. 

Eight other suspects are on the run and detectives are following crucial leads, that may lead to their arrest.