Police in West Pokot, acting on intelligence reports, have ambushed a building under construction in Makutano Town and recovered 135 and a half bags of subsidised fertilizer belonging to the National Cereals and Produce Board. Each bag weighed 50 kilogrammes, bringing the total seizure to nearly 6.8 metric tonnes of the government-subsidised input.

During the operation, officers from Kapenguria Police Station also recovered a weighing machine, a paybill number, and an account number believed to be linked to the illegal fertilizer trade. No arrests were made during the raid, as the main suspect is said to remain at large. The recovered exhibits were taken to Kapenguria Police Station for safe custody as investigations continue and police pursue the owner of the fertilizer.

Government investment under threat

Confirming the incident, West Pokot County Commissioner David Saruni said the government has invested heavily in ensuring farmers access fertilizer at subsidised prices to support affordable farming and boost food production. He expressed concern that some individuals were taking advantage of the subsidy programme by diverting fertilizers meant for farmers and selling it at higher prices.

“It is unfortunate that while the government is working hard to reduce fertilizer prices for farmers, some people are sabotaging these efforts through corruption and illegal sales,” Mr Saruni said.

According to the county commissioner, the suspect had been selling the subsidised fertilizer at between Sh3,200 and Sh3,500 per bag instead of the official government price of Sh2,500. That markup represents a profit margin of up to Sh1,000 per bag, with the total seized consignment potentially worth over Sh470,000 on the illegal market.

Warnings to traders involved in illegal trade

Mr Saruni warned traders involved in the illegal sale of government-subsidised fertilizer that they would face the full force of the law, noting that such practices undermine government efforts to support farmers and increase the cost of farming. He said the government would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found diverting subsidised inputs meant for smallholder farmers.

The Makutano seizure is the latest in a series of recoveries of subsidised fertilizer across the country. Similar operations in recent months have netted thousands of bags in various counties, pointing to a coordinated network of actors diverting the inputs from NCPB depots to the black market.

Subsidy programme under pressure

The government’s fertilizer subsidy programme, introduced to cushion farmers against high input costs, has faced implementation challenges since its rollout. While many farmers have benefited from lower prices, officials have struggled to prevent leakage, with some unscrupulous traders purchasing the subsidised fertilizer from farmers or colluding with depot staff to divert supplies.

The recovery of a paybill number and account number during the West Pokot raid suggests that authorities are now tracing digital payment trails used in the illegal trade. Investigators are expected to follow those leads to identify buyers and accomplices within the supply chain.

Farmers urged to report suspicious activities

County officials have urged farmers to report any suspicious activities involving subsidised fertilizer, including attempts to sell the inputs at prices above the official Sh2,500 per bag. Farmers who purchase fertilizer from unauthorised sources risk not only paying inflated prices but also receiving counterfeit or adulterated products that could damage their crops.

For now, police continue to search for the main suspect behind the Makutano operation. The seized fertilizer remains at Kapenguria Police Station, pending further investigation and possible reallocation to legitimate farmers. The case serves as a reminder that while the subsidy programme has lowered input costs for millions of Kenyan farmers, protecting those gains requires constant vigilance against diversion and illegal trade