Three people have been arrested after police seized 12,835kg of fake fertiliser and 396kg of counterfeit maize seedlings in Lubinu, Kakamega County.
Mumias East OCPD Dorice Chemoss says officers from Shianda Police Station discovered the counterfeit goods when, acting on a tip-off, they raided the home of 38-year-old Asma Mukoya on Tuesday, March 25 afternoon.
According to the police boss, police officers busted the suspects loading the fake product on an Isuzu lorry, Reg. No. KDL 120K.
“Acting on a tip-off led officers to raid the home of Asma Mukoya a female adult aged 38 years in musoma village, Lubinu sub-location about 4 kilometres south of the station and found a lorry registration number KDL 120K make FRR Isuzu loading suspected counterfeit fertilizer,” a report filed at Shianda Police Station reads in part.
Chemoss has urged farmers to be careful when buying fertiliser and seeds during this planting season.
“Washukiwa, ambao mmoja wao ni mama wa hiyo boma, wanatusaidia na uchunguzi. Ningependa kuwasihi wakulima kwamba wanaponunua mbolea wawe makini sana ni aina gani ya mbolea wananunua. Hata wanaponunua mbegu, wawe makini sana. Wahalifu hawa wananunua mahindi ya kawaida alafu wanazipaka rangi ili kuwahadaa wananchi kuwa ni mbegu ya Kenya Seed. Mbolea nyingine imechangwanywa na changarawe.
“Driver wa hili lori pia anatusaidia tuweze kubaini mwenye biashara hii haramu ni nani,” Chemoss told Violet Auma.
The particulars of the counterfeit goods nabbed in the raid include; 196 bags of 50kgs, 24 bags of 50 kgs yarabela exran, 12 bags of 50 kgs DAP falcon fertilizer,14 bags of 50 kgs chaps meli DAP fertilizer, 2 bags of 50 kgs DAP fertilizer,8 bags of 25 kgs chaps solai mbolea Bora, 23.5 bags of 10 kgs DAP Falcon fertilizer and 198 packets of 2kgs hybrid seed maize from Kenya Seeds suspected to be counterfeit.
Also recovered at the scene was one weighing machine, three rolls of sewing threads, a repackaging machine and three bags of unsealed 50 kgs fertilizer and assorted empty sacks.
