Agriculture Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Paul Kipronoh Ronoh addressed the National Assembly Agriculture and Livestock Committee on February 21, 2025, regarding the 2025 Budget Policy Statement. A key concern raised was the distribution of fertiliser, a critical component of President William Ruto's food security agenda, a prominent feature of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.

While the Ministry of Agriculture has been urging farmers to collect fertiliser from designated depots, logistical challenges have caused delays. PS Ronoh clarified that fertiliser distribution is being strategically aligned with planting seasons across different agricultural regions. Currently, priority is being given to the North Rift and Western regions, significant grain-producing areas, where the rainy season has commenced. Counties such as Kericho, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Homabay, Baringo, and parts of Western Kenya are the immediate focus of the distribution efforts.

According to Dr. Ronoh, the distribution focus will shift to the Central region counties of Nyeri, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, and Laikipia between June and September, coinciding with their planting season. "We have made sure we distribute depending on the seasons farmers are planting. You will now see fertiliser going to North Rift region and Western but from June going forward, it will be going to Central region," Ronoh stated at a press briefing.

The PS reassured farmers that the government has secured ample fertiliser supplies, with depots replenished to hold a million bags. "We have enough fertiliser. Let farmers not panic. We have provided fertiliser in large quantities," he affirmed.

Despite the government's efforts to provide fertiliser at reduced prices, similar distribution hurdles faced by the previous administration persist. President Ruto's manifesto identified access to affordable farm inputs, particularly fertiliser, as a major constraint on agricultural productivity. Efficient fertiliser distribution was presented as a key strategy to manage the cost of living by stabilizing food prices. The manifesto stated that resolving the cost of living requires raising agricultural productivity, balancing the needs of farmers seeking higher incomes with consumers desiring lower prices. The goal is to enhance productivity through affordable inputs like fertiliser and certified seeds, aiming to increase farmer earnings, reduce the average annual import of six million bags of maize, and lower consumer costs.

President Ruto's vision included increasing maize production from 10 bags to at least 30 bags per acre, with fertiliser access being crucial. In his 2023 State of the Nation address, he highlighted the positive impact of reducing fertiliser prices to Sh2,500 from the previous market price of Sh6,500, leading to a significant increase in maize production. The acreage under maize cultivation increased by 200,000 acres, resulting in an additional 18 million bags of maize compared to the 5.5 million bags produced during the drought-affected previous season. This intervention led to a decrease in maize flour prices, with a two-kilogramme packet selling between Sh145 and Sh175, down from Sh250.

The President also attributed the success to the digitization of fertiliser distribution. Farmers are now enrolled in a digital register, ensuring that the intended recipients receive the fertiliser. This database enabled the implementation of an e-voucher system for fertiliser distribution for planting and top-dressing of maize, tea, coffee, rice, potatoes, cotton, and edible oil crops.

In 2024, government data indicates the distribution of seven million bags of planting and top-dressing fertiliser between February and September. President Ruto projected that this intervention would lead to a record maize production of 74 million 90-kg bags. Long-term agreements have been established with eleven fertiliser suppliers to ensure year-round availability of the commodity. The President assured that fertiliser for the long rains season would be stocked in outlets nationwide, enabling farmers to plant, grow, and produce effectively.