The much-publicized fake fertilizer case, which garnered significant public attention earlier this year, officially commenced its hearing today, with the first witness testifying in court.
In the case, Josiah Kariuki, the director of Fifty One Capital and SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited, along with former National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) officials Joseph Muna Kimote, John Kiplangat, and John Mbaya, were charged in May for supplying Ksh 209 million worth of fake subsidized fertilizer.
The prosecution alleges that the counterfeit fertilizer was distributed through the National Cereals and Produce Board under the Ministry of Agriculture.
The first witness, Kennedy Kipruto, co-director of African Diatomite Company, which supplied Kensil-C chemical to SBL Innovate Limited, testified about how Kensil-C was used in the production of the fake fertilizer.
Kipruto explained to the court that Kensil-C is a byproduct of diatomite that can alter soil structure, improve aeration, and enhance water retention. He further noted that Kensil-C is bought by companies and individual farmers who need to address specific issues related to their farms’ soil pH.
However, Kipruto emphasized in his testimony that Kensil-C is not a fertilizer.
The hearing is set to resume tomorrow as the case continues to unfold.
