Eight senior officials at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) have been suspended following ongoing investigations into the fake fertiliser scandal that has since rocked the country. 

The eight were interdicted for allegedly issuing certificates and marks of quality to two companies accused of supplying substandard fertiliser under the national susbsidised fertiliser programme.

Investigations into the matter are currently being handled by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and parliament.

The 8 who are all members of the quality assurance department, were interdicted to allow for investigations into the matter that has since irked many farmers across the country.

Among the two companies linked to the scandal include KEL Chemicals whose operations were suspended on Friday, April 5, 2024, after KEBS confirmed that some of its products did not meet the standards.

DCI are investigating how the company managed to obtain quality mark seals from KEBS despite producing substandard fertiliser.

Reports further indicate that over 20 other officials at KEBS are under scrutiny over their involvement in the fake fertiliser scandal.

DCI officers are also exploring options that the two suspended companies may have acted on their own without the knowledge of KEBS officials. The companies may have used a prior approval to repackage and sell substandard fertilers to unsuspecting members of the public.

On Sunday, April 7, police in Bungoma nabbed 120 bags of fake fertiliser that was being repackaged ready for distribution around the country.

The officers stated that the operation will continue until all those involved in the scandal are brought to book.