New pyrethrum law sparks optimism among growers

ABSALOM NAMWALO-KNA

Pyrethrum farmers across the country have expressed renewed optimism following the repeal of the Pyrethrum Act of 2013 and the enactment of a new law aimed at streamlining regulation and revitalizing the once-thriving sector.

The National Chairman of the Pyrethrum Growers Association, Mr. Justus Monda, lauded President William Ruto for assenting to the repeal of the old law, describing the move as a historic turning point for farmers and stakeholders.

Speaking during an interview, Monda said the previous legal framework had, for years, stifled growth in the industry due to overlapping mandates and bureaucratic hurdles.

“The old Act had governed the industry since 2013, but over time, it became clear that it was no longer aligned with the dynamic needs of modern agriculture,” he said.

“Bureaucratic rules continued to derail this industry even in this digital era. While other sectors moved at world speed, pyrethrum remained stagnated by archaic regulations. We are confident that the hurdles have now been removed,” he added.

Pyrethrum farming in Nakuru is undergoing a significant revival initiative led by the county government and private companies like Kentegra and the Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PPCK).

Pyrethrum is a major cash crop in the region, valued for the natural insecticide called pyrethrin found in its flowers Under the repealed law, the sector was regulated by a Pyrethrum Regulatory Authority mandated to license growers, dealers and processors, as well as collect levies for industry development.

Stakeholders argued that the arrangement created duplication and at times conflicted with other agricultural laws.

With the repeal, those licensing regulatory functions will now be migrated into a broader agricultural regulatory framework, including oversight under the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).

He said the transition is expected to reduce fragmentation and harmonize operations within the agricultural sector.

Monda noted that the new legislation provides clearer guidelines for farmers, processors and buyers, ensuring that all players operate under consistent and transparent rules.

“The new law is clearer and streamlines oversight. It eliminates duplication and conflicts between the previous Act and other agricultural statutes. This creates a more predictable environment for investment and growth. Farmers have long called for an open and competitive market structure to spur production and attract new investment,” he said.

According to Monda, regulatory complexity under the old framework discouraged expansion and limited farmers’ access to markets.

The Industry players believe this will encourage increased acreage under pyrethrum cultivation and improved processing capacity.

The sector, once a major foreign exchange earner for the country, has struggled in recent years due to declining production, delayed payments and regulatory bottlenecks.

Stakeholders now hope the new law will restore investor confidence and position pyrethrum as a key contributor to agricultural growth.

Pyrethrum is grown in eight of 11 Sub Counties including Molo, Kuresoi North, Kuresoi South, Njoro, Gilgil, Naivasha, Bahati, and Subukia.

The county government of Nakuru in collaboration with other stakeholders have distributed more than 66 million seedlings to farmers since 2017, and more than 7,056 farmers have benefitted.

Currently, Nakuru County has an average of 2,148 acres of land under pyrethrum farming and seeks to increase it to 30,000 acres of land under pyrethrum.

Governor Susan Kihika noted that the construction of Nakuru County Aggregation and Industrial Park (CAIPS) at the Egerton Agro-City in Njoro will provide farmers with cold storage facilities to minimize post-harvest losses, keep away predatory middlemen, and link farmers to value addition through agro-processing.