Kenya's pyrethrum giant faces collapse amid fraud, debt and leadership wars
The Ministry of Agriculture is pushing to revive the struggling Pyrethrum Processing Company of Kenya (PCCK). Despite a daily processing capacity of 25 metric tonnes, the firm managed just 411 metric tonnes in the last financial year. Now, fresh leadership and financial troubles have put the company under intense scrutiny. Kenya's pyrethrum sector has seen a sharp decline over the decades. Production once hit 18,000 metric tonnes in the early 1990s but now lingers around 500 metric tonnes. PCCK, which supports over 200,000 small-scale farmers across 19 counties, has faced mounting financial strain. Its latest financial records reveal a deficit of KES 83.6 million, with liabilities exceeding assets by KES 946.4 million.
Internal conflicts have worsened the situation. Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Ronoh and PCCK chair Granton Samboja recently exposed leadership disputes within the company. Allegations of sabotage have also surfaced, including claims that internal officials deliberately disrupted PCCK's systems and information server. The company even lost a potential investor ready to inject KES 50 million due to suspected interference.
In an attempt to stabilise operations, Njoroge Wachira has been appointed acting Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2025. However, long-standing issues remain unresolved. An extraction plant bought in 2006 has never been commissioned, adding to the company's operational inefficiencies. The revival plan for PCCK comes at a critical time. With financial losses, leadership disputes, and unutilised infrastructure, the company's future depends on addressing deep-rooted problems. The Ministry of Agriculture's intervention aims to restore stability and boost production in a once-thriving industry.
