Kakamega: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has warned Kenyans against buying pesticides from street hawkers, citing serious risks to health, crops, and the environment. Speaking to KNA in Kakamega town, the PCPB Compliance and Enforcement Officer for the Western and Nyanza regions, Nicholas Muendo, emphasized that pesticides should only be sold in licensed agrovets, as hawkers lack the necessary licenses for such business.
According to Kenya News Agency, Muendo explained that while some supermarkets can sell household pest control products, such as those for bedbugs or rodents, after obtaining a license, crop protection products must be exclusively sold through registered agrovet outlets. He urged hawkers to consider selling other products and encouraged those interested in dealing with pest control products to contact the board for training and licensing.
Muendo highlighted that possessing a product capable of killing pests is insufficient, as the board evaluates other factors. The fight against illegal pesticides is imperative due to their adverse effects on humans, the environment, and crops. He advised Kenyans to verify if a pest control product is registered before purchasing, noting that registered products feature a registration number beginning with PCPB (CR) followed by a four-digit number.
Furthermore, registered products must have labels in both English and Kiswahili, with at least one company address listed on the label being from Kenya. Muendo noted that the board has intensified raids and conducted sensitization forums nationwide to combat the illegal trade of pest control products.
The PCPB also provides training for Spray Service Providers (SSPs) and Pest Control Operators (PCOs) to ensure the proper use of these products. Inspectors have been stationed at border points, including the port of Mombasa, to control the entry and exit of illegal products.
Muendo remarked that the efforts are yielding positive results, as counterfeit products are rarely found in formal setups like agrovets, though they may still be seen sold by hawkers along the streets.
