A number of officials of the National Cereals and Produce Board were Tuesday evening arrested in connection with ongoing investigations into fake fertilizer distribution.
Their arrest followed the Director of Public Prosecution’s approval of police plans to charge the individuals and a businessman over the scandal.
Detectives were Tuesday dispatched to search for the individuals for processing in readiness for arraignment and prosecution.
They will be charged with fraud and conspiracy to commit a crime, police said.
Another file with names of those to be arrested and charged is still pending at the DPP’s office, officials said.
The files with the recommendations were delivered to the ODPP on Monday last week.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters investigated the matter.
Police had asked ODPP to allow them to charge the individuals with fraud, abuse of office, and failing to discharge their duties among other charges.
Detectives have previously grilled a number of officials from government agencies that handled the fake fertiliser.
They include those from Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), NCPB, and suppliers.
Police said they had summoned and grilled all those bearing responsibility for the acquisition and supply of the substandard fertiliser.
The Ministry of Agriculture said they had completed testing all fertilizers being distributed under the government’s subsidy programme.
Officials said tests confirmed that all fertilizers under the subsidy programme meet the required quality requirements except those manufactured and distributed by a local company which did not meet all required test parameters.
In mid March, the ministry told farmers who had already purchased the batch of fertilizer to immediately discontinue its use and to visit their nearest NCPB facility for further guidance.
The ministry said KEBS had initiated legal action against the manufacturer.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture directed NCPB to replace all the substandard fertilizers that were distributed to farmers as it escalates the probe into the scandal.
