The Ministry of Health has assured Kenyans that the presence of detectable pesticide residues in vegetables sold in major markets does not pose an immediate health risk.
This comes after a 2026 study released six days ago by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN) and the University of Nairobi found that 78 percent of vegetables sold in Nairobi and Nakuru markets contain detectable pesticide residues, and one in every three samples exceeds the European Union’s Maximum Residue Limits (EU MRLs).
The study had analyzed 45 samples of common staples, including kales (sukuma wiki), spinach, tomatoes, and onions, with samples taken from major hubs including Muthurwa, Kangemi, Nakuru, and Githurai markets
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Health, the government announced a raft of measures to strengthen food safety surveillance and enforcement, following the release of the study.
The Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, said that they had reviewed the study even as they acknowledged the importance of the findings.
“These findings contribute to the country’s food safety evidence base,” she said.
However, the PS noted that while some kale and spinach samples contained multiple pesticide residues, the findings should not cause panic, explaining that detectable residues do not necessarily translate into immediate health danger.
“The concern relates to long-term cumulative exposure rather than acute illness from consuming a single meal, and I want to advise Kenyans to continue eating vegetables as part of a healthy, balanced diet,” she said.
The PS urged households to reduce pesticide residues by thoroughly washing, soaking, and, where appropriate, peeling fresh produce before consumption, saying that simple preparation practices can lower pesticide residues by between 60 and 70 percent.
To strengthen consumer protection, Muriuki said the ministry will work with the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and county governments to enhance routine surveillance and testing of fresh produce sold in public markets.
Other planned interventions, the PS said, include reviewing and enforcing maximum residue level standards and compliance with pre-harvest intervals, intensifying public education on safe food handling, promoting safer integrated pest management practices among farmers, and establishing an inter-agency food safety task force to review the study’s findings and recommend further regulatory action.
“We will continue monitoring the situation closely and provide updates as further testing and interventions are undertaken,” Kariuki said.
According to the study released Friday, the experts noted that without stronger regulation, unsafe food linked to highly hazardous pesticides will keep reaching consumers, talking of the need for a 360-degree approach that pairs household action with firmer enforcement of pesticide standards so that safety does not depend on what happens in the kitchen alone.
By Wangari Ndirangu
