Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Kagwe announced that employees of the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PPCK) have endorsed the government’s proposal to lease the company to private operators. The move, aimed at reviving the struggling organisation, is now awaiting cabinet approval.
CS Kagwe highlighted that PPCK has been grappling with insufficient resources and financial constraints, severely affecting operations and undermining the country’s pyrethrum value chain. “PPCK’s current financial performance is unsustainable, generating only Ksh35 million annually, with its best at Ksh60 million,” the Ministry of Agriculture noted in a statement.
Before leasing the company, the government will undertake a comprehensive cleanup of PPCK’s balance sheet, conduct a fresh valuation of its assets, and ensure thorough due diligence before a private operator assumes control.
PPCK, which processes, produces, and markets pyrethrum and pyrethrum-based products, also supports the sector through research and farmer assistance. Its activities include extracting pyrethrins for natural insecticides, promoting quality seeds and farming techniques, and ensuring the quality and marketability of pyrethrum extracts for local and international markets.
The company currently faces debts totaling Ksh3.5 billion, owed to suppliers and in staff pension arrears. Additionally, PPCK owes farmers Ksh10 million for deliveries made between August and October, which Kagwe assured the government would settle immediately.
While acknowledging the challenges, CS Kagwe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting farmers, stabilising payments, and positioning the pyrethrum sector for global competitiveness under a modernised, private-sector–driven framework.
To further strengthen the pyrethrum value chain, the government plans to distribute clean planting materials, expand extension services, and align production standards with international regulatory requirements to secure export markets. These measures aim to revive the sector, attract investment, and ensure sustainable growth for Kenyan pyrethrum farmers.
