Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has ordered the destruction of 27,518 bags of expired fertiliser stored in various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots across the country.
In a statement on Thursday, CS Kagwe assured Kenyans that neither the government nor the public would incur any financial loss from the disposal. The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) will oversee the safe destruction of the expired Sulphate of Ammonia (21 per cent N) fertiliser.
The consignment, delivered between December 27, 2024, and January 6, 2025, initially met KEBS standards. However, upon supply, NCPB flagged the fertiliser’s short shelf-life, set to expire on February 28, 2025. The board informed the supplier and requested a replacement with a longer shelf life, as the stock was unlikely to be sold before expiration.
Following standard operating procedures, NCPB issued a sale stoppage order on February 27, 2025, and KEBS seized the remaining fertiliser on March 4, preventing any further distribution.
CS Kagwe clarified that the fertiliser was supplied on a consignment basis, meaning ownership remained with the supplier until sale. Consequently, the supplier will bear all associated costs and losses for the expired stock.
“The government remains committed to ensuring that Kenyan farmers access high-quality farm inputs while upholding public health and environmental safety,” Kagwe stated.
He also urged agricultural stakeholders to consider insurance coverage to mitigate similar risks in the future.
This move underscores the government’s vigilance in maintaining quality standards in the agricultural sector while safeguarding farmers from substandard or expired products.
