Nairobi-based pyrethrum company Kentegra Biotechnology is set to receive $15 million in equity and loan financing from Finnish development financier Finnfund and the United States Development Finance Corp. The funding will be used to expand Kentegra's pyrethrum flower production and revive the pyrethrum sector, which has faced competition from cheaper synthetic pesticides. Kentegra Biotechnology specializes in producing and selling pyrethrin extracted from dried pyrethrum flowers to global insecticide and pesticide manufacturers. With this investment, Kentegra aims to process pyrethrum flowers from Ninety thousand small-scale farmers in Kenya, expand its production capacity for organic pesticides, and increase the involvement of women farmers in its network.
Pyrethrin is a key ingredient in organic pesticides used in agriculture and households. Kentegra's expansion plans include the opening of a pyrethrum factory in Nakuru County, which is expected to create six hundred direct jobs. This investment is expected to enhance the company's growth potential and its impact on sustainable and organic agriculture in Kenya.