Agriculture & Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has directed the disposal of 27,518 bags of expired fertilizer stored at various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) facilities nationwide.
In an official statement released on Thursday, CS Kagwe announced that the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) will oversee the destruction of Sulphate of Ammonia (21%) fertilizer supplied by Fine Tech Edge Ltd between December 27, 2024, and January 6, 2025.
Before the contract was executed, KEBS tested the fertilizer samples and confirmed that it met the required standards for Sulphate of Ammonia (21%N) and NPK fertilizers in Kenya. Following this approval, 34,100 bags (50kg each) were delivered to NCPB.
However, upon receiving the consignment, NCPB raised concerns about its short shelf life, which was set to expire on February 28, 2025, as indicated on the packaging. As a precaution, NCPB halted the sale of the fertilizer on February 27, 2025. Subsequently, KEBS intervened on March 4, 2025, seizing the consignment and preventing its distribution pending safe disposal.
CS Kagwe confirmed that Fine Tech Edge Ltd will bear all associated costs and losses, emphasizing the government's commitment to safeguarding public health and environmental standards and ensuring Kenyan farmers receive high-quality agricultural inputs.
Additionally, he urged stakeholders in the agricultural and livestock sectors to secure insurance coverage to mitigate similar losses.
He reiterated that neither the government nor Kenyan taxpayers would bear any financial burden in this case.
