The proprietor of two companies behind the fake Sh 209 million fertilizer scam has been charged at a Nairobi court
Josiah Kariuki Kimani appeared before the Milimani anti-corruption magistrate Celesa Okore and denied seven counts found against him by the DPP.
Mr Kimani through his companies is accused of packaging soil disguising it as organic fertilizer which was distributed to farmers through SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited and African Diatomite Industries Limited.
He denied carrying out the alleged offence on January 12, 2023.
He is said to have collaborated with others not before the court to deceive Kenya Bureau of Standards (KBS) Nakuru region offices.
Magistrate Okore heard from state prosecutor Evelyn Onunga that the accused forged an agreement of valued adding soil amendment and conditioner to organic fertilizer and animal supplement purporting it to be a genuine and valid agreement signed between his two companies and the standards agency.
Kimani was further charged with forging a standardization mark number 14617 in the name of 51 Capital, African Diatomite K Limited purporting it to be a genuine standardization mark issued by KBS.
The fertilizer distributor/manufacturer has denied presenting the forged agreement at the Nakuru offices claiming he had been authorized to add soil and animal supplements.
Okore heard that Kimani presented to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) the forged standardization mark 14617 purporting it to be genuine and issued by KBS.
The company chief is accused of applying for another standardization mark number 69392 for manufacturing of organic fertilizer that failed to meet the requirements of KS 2290:2018 on organic fertilizer specifications.
Mr Kimani presented himself before the court following an order issued last week when the Managing Director of NCPB Joseph Muna Kimote was charged alongside two others over the sale of 139,688 bags of 25kgs of the fake fertilizer valued at Sh 209,532,000.
The magistrate remanded Kimani until Tuesday, May 7, 2023, when she will determine whether to flee the accused on bond or not.
Kimani had been out on a conservatory bond of Sh 100,000 issued by Justice Diana Kavedza.
Kimote and his two co-accused were released on a cash bail of Sh 1 million.