3 Women Arrested as 55 Bags of Gov’t-Subsidised Fertiliser Recovered in Migori

Three women have been arrested in Migori Township after detectives recovered 55 bags of government-subsidised fertiliser allegedly being sold illegally despite restrictions on its distribution. 

In a statement on Thursday, October 22, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the arrests followed a tip-off from members of the public about the illegal sale of the subsidised agricultural input. 

"A tip-off from members of the public has led to the arrest of three women and the recovery of 55 bags of government-subsidised fertiliser being sold illegally in Migori Township," the statement read.

Acting on the information, detectives from Suna East moved to the Apida area in Suna Central Location, where they found the fertiliser being offered for sale. 

The bags were conspicuously marked 'NOT FOR SALE,' indicating that they were not intended for commercial distribution.

The detectives proceeded to arrest three suspects and conducted further searches at their respective stores after questioning them about the fertiliser.

"The operation led to the arrest of three suspects, who, upon questioning, led detectives to their respective stores. A subsequent search yielded 55 bags of the subsidised fertiliser, which were recovered as exhibits," the statement added.

The suspects were identified as Esther Mwera, Emily Akinyi and Elizabeth Kisili.

According to the DCI, the three women were escorted to Migori Police Station alongside the recovered fertiliser, where they were booked pending further police action.

This comes a day after detectives arrested a suspect linked to a violent robbery in Parklands, Nairobi, in which a member of the public was attacked and robbed of valuables.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 21, the DCI said the suspect, identified as Obed Makori, was apprehended along the Northern Bypass following an intelligence-led operation.

"Detectives from Gigiri have arrested a suspect captured in a viral video alongside his accomplices violently attacking a member of the public and robbing him of his valuables before fleeing the scene in Parklands, Nairobi," the statement read.

According to detectives, a firearm was dropped during the robbery and subsequently recovered by police as part of the investigation into the incident.

"During the incident, the suspect dropped a firearm, which was recovered by police and secured as exhibit," the statement added.

The DCI said Makori had remained at large following the incident, evading arrest until detectives tracked him down in the latest operation.

"After the incident, the suspect remained at large, evading arrest until the latest operation brought his run to an end," the statement further read.