The CS has also been faulted for approving payments to some of the suppliers of the substandard yield-enhancing product.
A press statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) stated that the DCI conducted investigations into the accused persons as well as SBL Innovative Manufacturers Limited and Fifty-One Capital (K) Limited and submitted the file to the ODPP for perusal and directions.
Upon review of the evidence tabled, Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Igonga directed that the accused parties be charged with the aforementioned crimes.
Just last week, the management of KEL-Chemicals Limited, the company accused of having supplied the fake fertiliser, through its advocate, Senior Counsel Ahmednassir Abdullahi, wrote to the DCI requesting investigations into the conduct of Mr Kimote, Mr Ngetich, Mr Matiri as well as CS Linturi.
In the letter to the DCI, KEL-Chemicals accused the senior officials of mishandling members of its senior management as well as tampering with facts on the issue surrounding the supply of some 3,000 bags of fertiliser that were allegedly found to be substandard.
These bags were produced between March 5 and March 7, and upon preliminary tests conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, were found to be of low quality leading to their tracing from the market, CS Linturi told the country during his inspection tour to the company three weeks ago.
Further testingSome bags were found and were taken to the Kenya Bureau of Standards for further testing as investigations continued, the CS said.
KEL Chemicals told the DCI that the three senior officials attempted to force one of its senior directors to attend a pre-arranged press conference and read a statement drafted by the State agency admitting fault for the production of the substandard fertiliser.
The company said that on April 7, 2024, its senior official received more than 30 calls within an hour from the three suspects insisting on the need for him to attend the press conference at a Nairobi hotel.
They alleged that one of the senior NCPB officials even shared a copy of the statement on the directors WhatsApp. The key messaging was for KEL-Chemicals to take responsibility for the 3,000 bags.
