Nairobi - The head of Kenya's state-run standards body, seven other officials and two businessmen were charged with attempted murder on Monday for allowing imports of substandard fertiliser containing mercury.

Charles Ongwae, managing director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), and other officials were arrested on Friday after the authorities found that fertiliser imported from Morocco was approved for sale, even though it failed KEBS's standards.

Eight of the 10 defendants appeared before Kenneth Cheruiyot, senior principal magistrate in Nairobi, and pleaded not guilty. They were later released on bail. Two others were not present in court.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said on Twitter they were charged with attempted murder over imports of 5 846 000 bags of substandard fertiliser. A charge sheet presented in court by the prosecutor office said the fertiliser contained mercury.

KEBS is responsible for checking the standard of goods entering the country.