NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 13 – Agriculture & Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe has directed the destruction of 27,518 bags of expired fertilizer stored in various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) facilities across the country.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) will oversee the safe disposal of the consignment, which consists of sulfate of ammonia (21 percent) fertilizer supplied by Fine Tech Edge Ltd. between December 27, 2024, and January 6, 2025.
In a statement, Kagwe stated that before the contract was executed, KEBS had collected samples of the fertilizer for testing and confirmed that it met the required standards for Sulphate of Ammonia (21%N) and NPK fertilizers.
Following this approval, the supplier delivered 34,100 bags (50 kg) to NCPB.
However, upon receiving the shipment, NCPB raised concerns over its short shelf life, which was set to expire on February 28, 2025, as indicated on the packaging.
The board immediately alerted the supplier and requested fertilizer with a longer shelf life, noting that the entire consignment was unlikely to be sold before the expiration date.
Following standard operating procedures, NCPB stopped the sale of the fertilizer on February 27, 2025, ensuring that any unsold stock would not reach the market.
On March 4, 2025, KEBS seized the remaining fertilizer and prohibited its movement until safe destruction is carried out.
Since the fertilizer was supplied on a consignment basis, ownership remains with Fine Tech Edge Ltd. until sold, and as a result, the company will bear all associated costs and losses.
CS Kagwe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that Kenyan farmers receive high-quality agricultural inputs while maintaining public health and environmental safety.
“The government remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in agriculture, and we will not compromise on quality,” Kagwe stated.
He also encouraged stakeholders in the agricultural and livestock sectors to adopt insurance measures to mitigate such losses, emphasizing that neither the government nor the public would bear any financial burden from the expired consignment.
