Kenya Insights

Tag: SBL-Innovate Manufacturer

  • Joe Kariuki Charged In Fake Fertilizer Scam

    Joe Kariuki Charged In Fake Fertilizer Scam

    Josiah Kariuki Kimani, Director of SBL Innovate Manufacturers LTD and Fifty-One Capital (K) Limited, was charged today for allegedly manufacturing, distributing, and selling substandard fertilizer.

    Appearing before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Magistrate Celesa Okore, he was charged with 7 counts, including conspiracy to defraud, forgery, uttering false documents, applying a standardization mark to a commodity that does not comply with Kenyan standards and others.

    He pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The prosecution through Robert Ogallo opposed his release on bail, citing that the accused’s life might be in danger and also taking into account the seriousness of the offenses.

    It is alleged that on 12th January, 2023, at an unknown location within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court with intent to deceive Kenya Bureau of Standards Nakuru Region offices, forged an agreement, namely value-adding soil amendment and conditioner to organic fertilizer and animal supplement, purporting it to be a genuine, valid agreement signed between SBL Innovate Manufacturers Ltd. and African Diatomite Industries Limited.

    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 standardisation mark issued by KBS.

    The fertiliser distributer and manufacturer denied presenting the forged agreement at the Nakuru offices claiming he had been authorised to add soil and animal supplements to fertiliser.

    Mr Okore heard that the accused also presented to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) the forged standardisation mark.

    The company chief is accused of applying for another standardisation mark number 69392 for manufacturing of organic fertiliser that failed to meet the requirements of organic fertiliser 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 fake fertiliser valued at Sh 209,532,000.

    Principal Magistrate Hon.Celesa A. Okore will deliver her ruling tomorrow, 7th May 2024 at 9 am. The accused will remain in police custody until tomorrow.

  • Parliament Summons Besieged SBL Director Kariuki Over Fake Fertilizer Exposé

    Parliament Summons Besieged SBL Director Kariuki Over Fake Fertilizer Exposé

    SBL Innovate Manufacturers Ltd Director Josiah Kariuki has been summoned to appear before parliament on Tuesday next week over the fake fertilizer expose.

    In a letter to Kariuki, the departmental committee on Agriculture and Livestock have invited Kariuki’s company to parliament to shed light on the issue of fake fertilizer.

    According to the letter, the meeting will discuss the distribution of GPC plus organic fertilizer by the company.

    The committee says it is deeply concerned to learn of the alleged malpractices and outright fraud as revealed by the Africa uncensored Expose.

    “The departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock has resolved to hold a meeting with the management of SBL innovate Manufacturers Ltd on Tuesday April 9 at Parliament Buildings at 2.30 PM,” the letter reads.

    According to the letter, the purpose of this meeting is to interrogate the circumstances that led to the distribution of GPC plus organic fertilizer in the country through the National Cereals and Produce Board despite the act that it has been found to be sub-standard by the KEBS.

    The company is expected to give details and an account of events from company registration and objective, venture and motive for fertilizer production.

    In addition to that the company should provide a copy of the permit to use standardization mark and a copy of the scheme for supervision and Control certification agreement signed between KEBS and your company.

    Also needed are a copy of the company CR12, the total no. of fertilizer bags manufactured and supplied to the market, Chemical composition of the GPC plus organic fertilizer.

    On Wednesday, Kariuki secured orders from the high court stopping his imminent arrest and deposited a Sh 100,000 anticipatory bail.

  • Probe Launched Into Circulation Of Fake Fertilizer After KEBS Exposed SBL-Innovate Manufacturer Fraud

    Probe Launched Into Circulation Of Fake Fertilizer After KEBS Exposed SBL-Innovate Manufacturer Fraud

    The Government has launched investigations into the fake fertilizer scandal that has rocked the country, warning that those found culpable will face the full wrath of the law.

    Through the Ministry of Agriculture, the State was however quick to note the subsidized fertilizer programme that had benefited hundreds of farmers had not been affected by the scandal.

    In the last couple of weeks, reports have emerged that farmers were supplied with fake fertilizer by unscrupulous traders leading to a drop in crop production.

    This week Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) accused a Kenyan-based regional fertilizer merchant of fraud after it emerged the firm supplied substandard fertilizer to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

    Documents tabled before the National Assembly Agriculture Committee by KEBS showed how SBL-Innovate Manufacturer Limited supplied substandard fertilizer dubbed ‘BL-GPC’ for over a year undetected.

    KEBS said the firm applied for certification on January 13 and secured approval on January 28, 2023.

    KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari told MPs that initially, the company had complied with all requirements which prompted the agency to issue them permits to supply organic fertilizer but later committed fraud by violating the standards.

    The standards agency certified SBL-Innovate Manufacturer to supply organic fertilizer but the firm supplied diatomite, which relies on a biologically generated form of Silica to enhance soil conditions, to NCPB stores.

    “During our surveillance, we sampled the product that was being sold in agrovets and finally got intelligence that the product was being supplied through NCPB stores. Test reports showed the product failed on organic matter,” Ngari said.

    For months, farmers unknowingly purchased the product bearing KEBS certification.

    KEBS said it launched a probe following a tip-off from the public, seizing 5,840 bags in a surveillance raid.

    Following the intelligence, NCPB sampled the product in over 59 ware stores across the country which led to the suspension of the product permits amid fears that the product may still be in circulation.

  • KEBS Accuses SBL-Innovate Manufacturer Limited Of Fertilizer Fraud

    KEBS Accuses SBL-Innovate Manufacturer Limited Of Fertilizer Fraud

    The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has accused a Kenyan-based regional fertilizer merchant of fraud after it emerged the firm supplied substandard fertilizer to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB).

    Documents tabled before the National Assembly Agriculture Committee by KEBS showed how SBL-Innovate Manufacturer Limited supplied substandard fertilizer dubbed ‘BL-GPC’ for over a year undetected.

    KEBS said the firm applied for certification on January 13 and secured approval on January 28, 2023.

    KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari told MPs that initially, the company had complied with all requirements which prompted the agency to issue them permits to supply organic fertilizer but later committed fraud by violating the standards.

    The standards agency certified SBL-Innovate Manufacturer to supply organic fertilizer but the firm supplied diatomite, which relies on a biologically generated form of Silica to enhance soil conditions, to NCPB stores.

    “During our surveillance, we sampled the product that was being sold in agrovets and finally got intelligence that the product was being supplied through NCPB stores. Test reports showed the product failed on organic matter,” Ngari said.

    For months, farmers unknowingly purchased the product bearing KEBS certification.

    KEBS said it launched a probe following a tip-off from the public, seizing 5,840 bags in a surveillance raid.

    Following the intelligence, NCPB sampled the product in over 59 ware stores across the country which led to the suspension of the product permits amid fears that the product may still be in circulation.

    “We haven’t received any communication from NCPB in regards to this particular matter even as they were distributing,” Ngari stated.

    Tigania West MP John Mutunga who chairs the committee raised queries on how the fake fertilizer remained on the market for a year questioning the effectiveness of KEBS surveillance.

    Ineffective surveillance

    “How often do you do your surveillance, what is the effect to the farmers that bought and used this fertilizer, does it have any effect to the crops?” Mutunga posed.

    “Your surveillance system, we need to know how long they go out there to survey product on sale and how often they report counterfeit because the product has been in circulation in 2023,” he added.

    Soy MP David Kiplagat raised eyebrows on how the NCPB ware stores across the country were distributing fake fertilizers unknowingly

    “What’s the relationship between KEBS, NCPB and SBL-Innovate manufacturers? Did NCPB seek assurance from KEBS that the product was certified before distributing? he posed.

    KEBS asserted that it had initiated legal proceedings against SBL Innovate Manufacturers Limited even as it remained unclear on the product quantity in the market.

    “We have written to the Director of Public Prosecution so that we can be able to prosecute the matter under the standard act,” said Ngari.

    The parliamentary probe came hours after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) seized 700 bags of suspected fake fertilizer in Kakamega.

    Farmers in the area said the fertilizer sold to them contained stones.

    Kenya Insights understands SBL Kenya, under the stewardship of Mr. Joe Kariuki, who is the company CEO, has been making inroads into some of Tanzania’s remotest farming districts, selling affordable fertilizer across towns and divisions, with the help and blessing of Tanzania’s largest fertilizer company, TFC (Tanzania Fertilizer Company).