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.
Speaking during a two-day media tour aimed at promoting accurate, science-based reporting on agriculture and food safety, aak-GROW/CropLife Kenya Chief Executive Officer Joel Mutai said responsible pesticide management requires collaboration among regulators, manufacturers, distributors, farmers, researchers and consumers.
“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,” said Mutai.
He urged farmers to buy only PCPB-registered products, follow label instructions and observe the recommended pre-harvest intervals to ensure food safety and protect consumers from unnecessary exposure to harmful pesticide levels.
Mutai noted that the presence of pesticide residues in food does not automatically pose a health risk, explaining that safety is determined by whether residue levels remain within internationally recognized Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs).
“The issue is not whether residues are detectable, but whether they exceed scientifically established maximum residue limits designed to protect consumers,” he said.
He said responsible management extends beyond product registration through stewardship programmes that promote safe distribution,
The 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.
Mutai said responsible pesticide use also contributes to increased agricultural productivity by enabling farmers to effectively manage pests while minimizing risks to human health, beneficial insects and the environment.
On environmental protection, he said the industry’s pesticide container collection programme is being aligned with the government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations through the Asbestos Producer Responsibility Organization of Kenya (APROK), which will oversee the collection, transportation, recycling and environmentally sound disposal of pesticide waste.
However, he said 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.
Mutai also warned against counterfeit and illegal pesticides, saying they pose a far greater threat because they have not undergone scientific evaluation and may contain banned, substandard or unknown substances that endanger farmers, consumers and the environment.
PCPB General Manager for Compliance and Enforcement Lawrence Kalawa said 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 said education accounts for nearly 80 per cent 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.
To address the problem, the board has deployed officers at 10 border posts on a 24-hour basis and stationed compliance teams at the Port of Mombasa, where cargo is screened up to 72 hours before vessels dock to detect prohibited or suspicious consignments.
Kalawa said the measures recently led to the interception of a container carrying more than 26 tonnes of unauthorized pesticides before it entered the local market. The case is currently before the courts.
According to the board, 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 neighbouring countries.
Kalawa said illegal pesticides account for less than one per cent 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.
He added that PCPB is currently prosecuting 51 cases involving illegal pesticides, with offenders facing fines ranging from Sh100,000 to Sh750,000 upon conviction, alongside other penalties provided under the law.
Kalawa encouraged farmers, agro-dealers and distributors to verify products through the PCPB online register before purchase, saying the platform enables users to confirm whether a pesticide is legally registered for sale and use in Kenya.
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 said the company, which serves farmers through a network of agro-input resellers across the country, conducts regular farmer training in partnership with the Agrochemicals Association of Kenya (AAK) and other industry stakeholders.
He said the company has also deployed qualified agronomists across the country to provide farmers with technical advice on crop protection, product selection, correct application methods and integrated pest management practices.
Karaja added that the company has introduced drone spraying services at Sh1,000 per acre to improve application accuracy, reduce chemical wastage, lower production costs and minimize farmers’ exposure to pesticides during spraying operations.
Industry stakeholders said every pesticide reaches farmers only after undergoing rigorous scientific evaluation, regulatory oversight and responsible stewardship programmes designed to ensure the products can be used safely, effectively.
By Wangari Ndirangu
