Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested six suspects in Narok who were selling counterfeit pesticides.
The officers, who conducted an operation with the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), arrested the suspects at Ntulele Center in Narok East sub-county and Narok Town.
The suspects have been locked up at Narok Police Station and the unregistered products they were selling worth Sh 500,000 secured as exhibits.
PCPB General Manager in charge of Compliance and Enforcement, Lawrence Kalawa said the traders will face the charge of selling unlawful/counterfeit pest control products contrary to Section 4(1) of the Pest Control Act Chapter 246 Laws of Kenya.
The board and DCI are jointly conducting an operation to weed out unregistered pest control products that are being sold to unsuspecting Kenyans.
Kalawa noted that Pesticides play a crucial role in safeguarding crop production by combating pests and disease-causing agents.
The substances, he said, are however toxic and their manufacture is strictly controlled and regulated worldwide.
“Unregistered pest control products pose a serious risk to human health, food safety, the environment, and agricultural productivity. Illegal pesticides are often ineffective and may contain undeclared chemicals that can cause harm.
“To address this challenge, the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) continues to strengthen surveillance and enforcement efforts to prevent the entry, distribution, and use of unauthorized pest control products, ensuring farmers and consumers have access to safe, quality, and efficacious products,” the official emphasized.
He reminded all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain that only products approved by the board can legally be imported, sold, distributed, or used in Kenya.
“PCPB reminds importers, distributors, transporters, retailers, farmers, and members of the public that only pest control products registered and approved by the Board are legally permitted for importation, distribution, sale, and use in Kenya, in accordance with the Pest Control Products Act, Cap. 346,” Kalawa affirmed.
The board is a statutory body established under an Act of Parliament, the Pest Control Products Act, Chapter 346, Laws of Kenya of 1982 to regulate the importation and exportation, manufacture, distribution and use of pest control products.
According to Kalawa, every pesticide legally introduced into the country must undergo a rigorous registration process by the PCPB before being released into the market. The assessment considers factors including toxicity, efficacy, human safety and potential effects on animals and the environment.
He explained that products that meet the required standards are registered, while those that fail the assessment are rejected.
The PCPB Compliance and Enforcement general manager said while counterfeit and unregistered pesticides account for a small fraction of the country’s pesticide market, their presence poses a risk to food safety, public health and the environment, making farmer awareness and strict enforcement critical.
According to Kalawa, most pesticides available in Kenya are registered and meet regulatory standards.
Data from the PCPB shows that Kenya imported about 22,000 tonnes of registered pesticides in the year ending June 30, while only about eight tonnes (8,000kg) of unauthorized pesticides were found circulating in the market, representing less than one per cent of the total volume.
Despite the intensified enforcement, Kalawa said the long-term solution lies in empowering farmers to identify genuine products.
“If farmers know how to identify genuine products, there will be no market for illegal pesticides. Without a market, the illegal trade cannot survive,” he said.
The official indicated that the unauthorized products enter the market through porous borders, illegal local manufacturing and false import declarations at the Port of Mombasa, while others are imported from as far as China, making strict regulation necessary to prevent unsafe products from reaching Kenyan consumers and farmers.
Kalawa further urged Kenyans to verify the registration status of pest control products before purchasing or applying them and warned that those involved in the illegal trade would face legal consequences.
“The Board urges all stakeholders to verify the registration status of pest control products before purchase or use. Any person or entity involved in the illegal trade of unauthorized products will be subject to regulatory and legal action as provided by the Pest Control Products Act, Cap. 346,” he stated
He pointed out that, to make it easier for farmers to verify products, PCPB has published an online database of all registered pesticides together with their approved labels.
Kalawa urged farmers, households and other pesticide users to always check the label before purchasing or applying any pesticide, noting that the PCPB registration number is the first indication that a product has been approved for use in Kenya.
The label also provides important information, including the approved use of the product, dosage, local agent, distributor, classification, first-aid measures, environmental precautions and instructions on safe handling.
He said the information is provided in both English and Kiswahili to enable consumers to understand the precautions and directions for use.
Kalawa cautioned that pesticides are toxic and can cause serious health complications when consumed or used contrary to the instructions on the label.
He said farmers must strictly observe the recommended pre-harvest intervals after spraying crops to prevent pesticide residues from reaching consumers.
“For example, if the label says that after spraying you should not eat the vegetables until five days have elapsed, then you must wait for the prescribed period,” he said.
He added that similar precautions apply when pesticides are used in homes, with residents required to keep away from treated premises for the period specified on the product label.
Kalawa assured that the safety standards applied by the Board are based on extensive laboratory assessments, including studies on animals, to establish safe levels of exposure before a pesticide is approved for use.
He urged consumers to avoid purchasing pesticides from unlicensed traders and instead buy only products that are properly labelled and bear a valid PCPB registration number.
He further called on farmers and members of the public to report suspected illegal pesticides and traders to the relevant authorities, saying public cooperation is critical in eliminating counterfeit and unregistered products from the market.
The PCPB has also encouraged pesticide users to read and follow all instructions on product labels, use the recommended dosage and observe safety precautions to protect themselves, consumers, livestock, and the environment.
Kalawa said the government will continue strengthening inspections, surveillance, public awareness and enforcement to ensure that only safe and properly registered pesticides are available in the Kenyan market.
By Emily Kadzo
