Nakuru County has taken center stage in Kenya’s ambitious push to revive the once-thriving pyrethrum sector, with the launch of certified pyrethrum seedlings and a farmers’ field day held in Elburgon, Molo Sub-County. The event marked a milestone in the national efforts to rejuvenate pyrethrum farming, bringing together top government officials and agricultural stakeholders to support farmers and promote the crop’s commercial potential.
Leading the charge, Nakuru County emphasized its commitment to positioning itself as the hub of pyrethrum production in the country. Currently, over 10,000 farmers across eight sub-counties in Nakuru are engaged in pyrethrum farming. These farmers are cultivating a total of 3,884 acres, producing an estimated 1,273 metric tonnes of pyrethrum valued at Sh236.9 million. The figures reflect a growing momentum in the sector, driven by renewed interest and investment.
To bolster this growth, the county has already distributed more than 51 million certified pyrethrum seedlings worth Sh147 million. In the 2024/25 financial year alone, 9 million seedlings valued at Sh31.8 million have been delivered to 1,653 farmers. These efforts aim to ensure farmers have access to high-quality planting materials that can boost yields and profitability.
There is a clear push for more collaboration across the agricultural value chain. Senior government officials at the launch encouraged private sector players to support the initiative by offering fair prices for pyrethrum and investing in value addition. The call was also made for counties to enhance agricultural extension services to empower farmers with knowledge and technical support.
Nakuru County is already working closely with various stakeholders to strengthen the sector. Key partners include the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PPCK), Kentegra Ltd, DanChurch Aid, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), and Good People International. These organizations are playing vital roles in seedling production, technical support, processing, and market development.
Significantly, KALRO Molo is in the process of setting up a tissue culture laboratory to facilitate continuous seedling propagation. Plans are also underway to establish a dryer and aggregation center in the Kuresoi/Molo region, along with a pyrethrin testing laboratory at the Agriculture and Food Authority premises. These infrastructure developments are expected to streamline the production process, improve product quality, and ensure better returns for farmers.
In addition to seedling distribution, the county is promoting the formation of cooperatives, licensing of nurseries, and small-scale value addition projects. In areas like Molo and Subukia, some farmers are already engaged in producing mosquito coils, an innovative way of increasing income from pyrethrum.
Farmers have been urged to capitalize on the available support by planting certified seedlings, working with extension officers, and joining cooperatives to strengthen their bargaining power in the market. The overall vision is to expand the area under pyrethrum to 30,000 acres and transform Nakuru into the definitive capital of pyrethrum farming in Kenya.
This multi-faceted approach from seedling provision to processing and marketing reflects Nakuru’s determination to not only revive the crop but also build a sustainable, profitable value chain for thousands of farmers.
