The late arrival of fertiliser at the port of Mombasa is likely to have ripple effects beyond the current planting season, with early signs already pointing to disrupted farm cycles and potential pressure on food supply.
Farmers in the North Rift have already raised alarm over fertiliser shortages, saying the delays were disrupting planting schedules and exposing them to losses.
On Tuesday, a vessel carrying an estimated two million bags of fertiliser docked at the port of Mombasa, a week later than its intended arrival.
The government acknowledged that there was a delay in distribution of the fertiliser, attributing the challenge to the tensions in the Gulf, which have disrupted global vessel routes at the Strait of Hormuz.
MV Najwa, sailing under the flag of Liberia, voyaged from Las Palmas in Spain through the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, avoiding the conflict at the Red Sea to reach Mombasa.
“The shipment was supposed to arrive last week but it had to change the route. I know there have been challenges but such disruptions which are beyond the control of the government can be mitigated in a way that doesn't affect the farming community,” the Principal Secretary, State Department for Agriculture, Mr Paul Rono said.
He explained that the consignment will be offloaded and transported via the Standard Gauge Railway and by road to the 354 National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots, cooperative society depots, and other certified facilities for onward distribution to farmers.
In addition, Mr Rono, directed all distribution centres to remain open throughout the weekend and even on public holidays to allow farmers to collect the commodity for planting.
“By the end of the week all the stores will have the fertiliser and farmers will be able to redeem them. And so, to assist those farmers who have delayed, we will ensure that all the depots will remain open and we have no doubt that all farmers will receive the fertiliser and move on with planting” he added.
Apart from challenges caused by the Middle East conflict, Mr Rono also flagged the presence of cartels colluding with unscrupulous individuals to acquire and sell fertiliser to unsuspecting farmers, ordering their immediate arrest.
The planting cycle has also been disrupted by unavailability of affordable certified seeds. The Ministry of Agriculture now wants the Kenya Seed Company (KSC) to move with speed and ensure swift implementation of the Sh2 billion seed subsidy programme.
PS Rono warned the KSC board of management over their alleged laxity, saying members will be sacked if that is what it will take to save farmers from being charged high prices for seeds.
“They should stop the boardroom politics and move to serve farmers otherwise we will have no option but to deal with that board,” he said.
According to the government, five million bags of fertiliser have so far been distributed since January 2025 for the short rains, with a target of seven million bags under the programme.
Tigania West MP Julius Mutunga, who is the chairperson of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Agriculture, urged the government to encourage farmers to adopt modern technology and the latest farming methods.
He said this would improve crop production and guarantee the country’s food security which is currently heavily reliant on rain seasons. Mr Mutunga added that the national database of farmers must be put to good use.
“We know there is a database with 6.3 million farmers in the country and we also know their farms and the inputs they require. We have suggested as a committee that all the subsidy programs should be handled through NCPB to ensure equitable and fair distribution,” said Mr Mutunga.
Soi MP David Kiplagat also urged the government to use the database to ensure that all farmers in the country benefit from the subsidy programme. He said that the committee has received a budget proposal from the government to support the subsidy programme to a tune of Sh18 billion.
