Govt Orders Destruction Of 27,518 Bags Of Expired Fertilizer

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has directed the destruction of 27,518 bags of expired fertilizer stored in various National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots across the country.

He assured the public that neither the government nor consumers would suffer any financial losses, as the supplier would bear the costs.

In a statement, the Agriculture Ministry confirmed that the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) would oversee the disposal of the expired fertilizer to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

The consignment, containing sulphate of ammonia (21%) fertilizer, was delivered to NCPB between December 27, 2024, and January 6, 2025, under a consignment-based agreement.

According to the ministry, KEBS had initially tested the fertilizer before delivery and found that it met Kenyan standards. However, upon arrival, NCPB discovered that the fertilizer had a short shelf life, expiring by the end of February.

Recognizing the risk of not selling the entire stock within that period, NCPB alerted the supplier and requested fertilizer with a longer shelf life.

With growing public concerns over the possibility of expired fertilizer entering the market, Kagwe reassured Kenyans that the government had taken all necessary precautions to prevent this.

He emphasized that strict protocols would be followed to secure and dispose of the fertilizer safely.

“The unsold fertilizer will not be released to the market and will be safely destroyed under the supervision of KEBS,” the CS stated.