NAKURU, Kenya – President William Ruto on Monday launched the KenGen–Kaishan Green Ammonia Fertiliser Project, hailing it as a milestone in Kenya’s drive toward agricultural self-reliance, green industrialisation and energy transition.
The Sh120 billion plant, to be powered entirely by geothermal energy, will produce up to 480,000 tonnes of fertiliser annually, cutting the country’s heavy reliance on imports and cushioning farmers against volatile global prices.
“Each shipment represents a cost to our Treasury and a lost opportunity for our people. Today’s event marks a decisive step toward self-sufficiency and resilience in fertiliser production,” said Dr Ruto during the groundbreaking ceremony in Olkaria.
Broke ground for the construction of the KenGen-Kaishan Olkaria Green Fertiliser Plant in Nakuru County; a defining moment for Kenya’s green industrial transformation.This venture is a historic stride for Kenya, and indeed for Africa, as we boldly match our words with tangible
Kenya imported more than 600,000 tonnes of fertiliser in 2023 and 443,000 tonnes worth nearly Sh60 billion in the first half of 2025 alone, according to government data.
Africa’s First Green Ammonia Fertiliser Plant
The plant, a partnership between KenGen and China’s Kaishan Group, will use 165MW of geothermal energy to synthesise green ammonia — the first such project in Africa.
It is expected to create over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, train Kenyan engineers in hydrogen and industrial operations, and prevent 600,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually — equivalent to taking 130,000 petrol and diesel vehicles off the road.
President Ruto said the investment, valued at $800 million (Sh120 billion), will generate about Sh1.7 billion in annual profits for KenGen and open new opportunities in carbon credit trading.
“Green fertiliser will give Kenyan exports a competitive edge and reinforce our leadership in sustainable innovation,” he said.
Powering Kenya’s Next Industrial Leap
The Head of State said Kenya must expand its energy capacity from the current 2,300MW to at least 10,000MW in the next decade to meet growing industrial and economic demand.
He revealed that the government is prioritising public-private partnerships and creating a National Infrastructure Fund to finance major projects in energy, roads and dams.
Ruto also outlined plans to construct 50 mega dams to irrigate 2.5 million acres of farmland, dual 1,000km of highways, and tarmac 10,000km of rural roads, saying these investments are essential to building a “modern, food-secure nation.”
“This is the scale of our ambition — to build a nation powered by renewable energy and sustained by our own resources,” he said.
