Police officers in Narok County on Wednesday recovered 252 bags of suspected stolen government fertilizer.
The fertilizers was recovered from a church hall.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) one suspect linked to the nabbed fertilizer was also arrested.
DCI has since identifed the suspect as Robert Kipng’etich Bett alias Raphael.
He is said to be a farm manager employed by a Kericho-based businessman Joseph Kiplangat Keter.
Bett was arrested at Ololulunga in Narok South for being the custodian of the fertilizer which was found stored at the Grace Covenant Church.
Conveying suspected stolen property
The suspect was arraigned in court on Thursday, January 4.
“Following the recovery of 252 bags of suspected stolen GoK fertilizer at a Narok Church hall yesterday, a male suspect was today arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts charged with conveying suspected stolen property,” DCI said in a statement.
“Robert Kipng’etich Bett alias Raphael who alleged to be a farm manager employed by a Kericho-based businessman Joseph Kiplangat Keter was arrested at Ololulunga in Narok South, being the custodian of the fertilizer found stored at the Grace Covenant Church,” it added.
Police further said the second suspect alleged to have bought the government fertilizer from a renowned dealer operating within the North Rift region and who has several previous cases.
The nabbed consignment is believed to be part of fertilizer that the government has been selling to farmers at a subsidized cost of Ksh3,500 per 50 kilogramme bag.
The fertilizer was sold to registered farmers through the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).
However, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him and was released on a Ksh500,000 cash bail.
Hearing for the first case has since been set for Friday, January 5, 2024.
This is even as the DCI said “investigations continue.”
