President William Ruto on Monday, November 3, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the KenGen–Kaishan Green Fertiliser Plant in Olkaria, Nakuru County — a major step toward reducing Kenya’s reliance on imported fertilisers.
The Sh35 billion facility, a joint venture between Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and China’s Kaishan Group, is expected to produce up to 200,000 tonnes of green fertiliser annually. It will be powered by geothermal energy from Olkaria fields, marking a shift to clean and sustainable agricultural inputs.
Speaking during the event, President Ruto said the project aligns with Kenya’s commitment to lower fertiliser prices and enhance food security through locally produced, environmentally friendly inputs. “This plant is part of our plan to make Kenya self-sufficient in fertiliser production, create jobs, and stabilise farm input prices for our farmers,” he stated.
The President’s appearance in Nakuru came a day after he missed Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s swearing-in ceremony in Dodoma, which attracted several African leaders. Sources at State House indicated that Ruto’s absence was due to a tight domestic schedule tied to key national projects, including today’s launch.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi lauded the partnership, saying the project will not only cut the cost of fertiliser but also make Kenya a hub for green industrialisation in the region.
The plant is expected to be completed within two years and will employ more than 1,000 people during construction. Once operational, it will help cushion farmers against global supply shocks that have in recent years pushed fertiliser prices to record highs.
Ruto’s administration has prioritised green manufacturing and renewable energy as key pillars of Kenya’s economic transfor mation agenda.
By Nairobi