By The Weekly Vision Team
Mr. Kennedy Kipruto Kulei, the director of African Diatomite Company, took the stand last week to testify about how fraudsters forged his documents to supply counterfeit fertilizer to Kenyan farmers. Mr Kulei described how his papers were falsified and used to deceive the government in a case involving Ksh 209 million in fake fertilizer. He clarified that his company only supplies Kensil-C—a diatomite by-product for improving soil structure, aeration, and water retention—and does not deal in fertilizers.
Mr Kulei, the first witness in the case, presented various documents to the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, demonstrating the use of forged documents in the fake fertilizer scheme. The accused, including businessman Josiah Kariuki and three former National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) officials—Joseph Muna Kamote, John Kiplangat, and John Mbaya—have denied charges of conspiracy and forgery related to the fraudulent fertilizer.
Mr. Kulei explained that he and his father, Joshua Kulei, a former aide to the late President Daniel Arap Moi, are directors of the company. The accused individuals face charges for supplying fake fertilizer to the NCPB. Specifically, one charge alleges that they conspired to defraud Kenyan farmers by selling 139,688 bags of counterfeit fertilizer, which were falsely represented as genuine. This alleged offence took place on March 31, 2022, at the NCPB Headquarters in Nairobi. The court has adjourned the case until October 31.
