Nairobi: The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) and aak-GROW/CropLife Kenya have reaffirmed that all pesticides registered for use in Kenya undergo rigorous scientific evaluation and continuous monitoring to safeguard public health, the environment, and food security. The organizations said every pest control product is assessed for quality, safety, and efficacy before registration by the PCPB and remains subject to inspections, laboratory testing, market surveillance, and regulatory oversight throughout its lifecycle to ensure compliance with national and international safety standards.
According to Kenya News Agency, aak-GROW/CropLife Kenya Chief Executive Officer Joel Mutai emphasized the importance of collaboration among regulators, manufacturers, distributors, farmers, researchers, and consumers for responsible pesticide management. Speaking during a two-day media tour aimed at promoting accurate, science-based reporting on agriculture and food safety, Mutai stated, “A responsible industry is built on accountability, science, and product stewardship. By working together, we can strengthen food security, protect human health, preserve the environment, and build public confidence in agricultural systems.”
Mutai urged farmers to purchase only PCPB-registered products, adhere to label instructions, and observe recommended pre-harvest intervals to ensure food safety and protect consumers from unnecessary exposure to harmful pesticide levels. He clarified that the presence of pesticide residues in food does not automatically pose a health risk, as safety is determined by whether residue levels remain within internationally recognized Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).
Mutai further explained that responsible management extends beyond product registration through stewardship programmes that promote safe distribution, transportation, storage, handling, and disposal of pesticides throughout the agricultural value chain. Initiatives include farmer training, promotion of personal protective equipment, poison information services, container collection programmes, and efforts to eliminate counterfeit and illegal pesticide products from the market.
On environmental protection, Mutai highlighted that the industry’s pesticide container collection programme is being aligned with the government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. This alignment is facilitated through the Asbestos Producer Responsibility Organization of Kenya (APROK), which oversees the collection, transportation, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal of pesticide waste. However, he noted that implementation has slowed due to ongoing discussions on waste management charges, warning that high fees could increase the cost of doing business if not harmonized across the sector.
PCPB General Manager for Compliance and Enforcement Lawrence Kalawa stated that the board has intensified surveillance, inspections, and border controls to curb the entry of illegal pesticides, significantly reducing unauthorized products in the market. “We have strengthened border monitoring, enhanced intelligence sharing with partner agencies, and increased farmer awareness to safeguard the country’s agricultural sector,” he said.
Kalawa emphasized that education accounts for nearly 80 percent of the board’s compliance work, with farmers and agro-dealers being trained to identify genuine registered products, verify labels, and avoid counterfeit pesticides. He acknowledged that some illegal products still enter the country through porous borders, false import declarations, smuggling networks, and illegal local formulations, presenting an ongoing challenge to enforcement agencies.
Kalawa revealed that about 22,000 tonnes of authorized pesticides were imported into Kenya during the financial year ending June, compared to approximately eight tonnes of illegal products recovered from the market. An additional 1.5 tonnes were intercepted at border points, with most originating from neighboring countries. Illegal pesticides account for less than one percent of Kenya’s pesticide market, indicating that existing regulatory controls remain largely effective despite persistent attempts by unscrupulous traders to introduce banned products into the country.
Mazao na Afya Ltd Chief Executive Officer Peter Karaja said farmer education remains the most effective tool in combating counterfeit agrochemicals and promoting responsible pesticide use. “The biggest gap in agriculture is knowledge transfer. Farmers need continuous education on the responsible use of agricultural products to produce safe food while protecting themselves and consumers,” he said. Karaja also mentioned the introduction of drone spraying services to improve application accuracy, reduce chemical wastage, lower production costs, and minimize farmers’ exposure to pesticides during spraying operations.
