Major health issues resulting from pesticide use include acute and sub-acute poisoning.
Pesticide
use in Kenya commenced during the advent of colonialism mainly in cash crops
such as majorly tea and coffee.
Over
the years, the use of pesticides has
become rampant as the economy heavily relies on agriculture, which contributes
30 per cent of the GDP and employs more than 40 per cent of the population,
with smallholder farmers accounting for 80 per cent of agricultural producers.
There has been an overreliance on synthetic
pesticides and limited use of biopesticides due to perceptions about their
effectiveness and availability. Driving west of the Great Rift Valley in the
1980s and early 1990s offered scenic views of dazzling, pristine white flowers
with yellow centers growing along the roadsides.
While they may have seemed
like ordinary wildflowers, they were actually pyrethrum which was once highly
favoured for its pyrethrins used in insecticide production. At the time, Kenya
produced 70 per cent of the world’s supply. However, this supply dwindled due
to competition from the introduction of synthetic pyrethroids.
Conventional
pesticides used in Kenya’s agricultural sector include herbicides, miticides,
plant growth regulators, insect repellents, and soil sterilants. Notably, Kenya
is a net importer of pesticide products, with recent statistics showing imports
valued at $177 million imported primarily from China, India, and Germany. Almost
all industries import raw materials for formulation, with the exceptions being
pyrethrin extract, kaolin, soapstone, calcium carbonate, and wattle bark.
Alarmingly,
76 per cent of the total volume of pesticides used in Kenya have been confirmed
to contain ingredients categorised as
Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs).
Commonly
used active ingredients include glyphosate, mancozeb, paraquat, and
chlorpyrifos; many of which have been banned in the EU. Needless to say,
the EU is a major consumer of Kenya’s
fresh fruits and vegetables and changing market standards have placed
increasing pressure on Kenyan producers to meet Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs).
Many Kenyan exports from farmers have been rejected for being unfit and
non-compliant with international standards.
The
pesticides industry has evolved over time, but the current Kenyan legislation
has not fully addressed changes such as strict adherence to food safety
standards or penalties for suppliers of substandard pesticides. Major health
issues resulting from pesticide use include acute and sub-acute poisoning,
often due to repeated exposure during application. Several studies have
reported widespread misuse and mishandling of pesticides in horticulture,
leading to serious occupational health risks.
According
to the Pest Control Products Act (PCPB) (CAP 346), the board is mandated to
regulate the importation, exportation, manufacture, distribution, and use of
pest control products. However, key questions remain: What has the PCPB done to
regulate MRLs in imported pesticides? Is the government funding PCPB
sufficiently to conduct pesticide residue analysis in agricultural produce,
soil, and water?
In
2022, there was a glimmer of hope when Parliament drafted legislation dubbed
the Pest Control Products Bill, 2022, sponsored by Gladys Boss Shollei, who is
the Uasin Gishu Woman Representative.
The
bill aimed to improve the legal and regulatory framework by overseeing the
importation, exportation, manufacture, distribution, and disposal of
pesticides. It also sought to address overlaps with the Pharmacy and Poisons
Act (Cap. 244), the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act (Cap. 254), and the
Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Para-Professionals Act No. 29 of 2011,
especially concerning health and safety regulations.
Late
last year, the Ministry of Agriculture engaged with the Senate Committee, and
the PCPB proposed amendments to prohibit the importation of food products
cultivated using pesticides that have been banned in Kenya. These amendments
also aim to regulate pesticide sales by ensuring that only licensed sellers can
operate. Such steps indicate a genuine effort by Kenyan authorities to tighten
pesticide regulations, promote food safety, and address public health risks.
However,
the proposed amendments must be fast-tracked and passed by Parliament to
promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Implementing
the proposed changes will require increased budgetary allocations from the
Treasury and adequate staffing. The PCPB should also adopt modern tracking
technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map and monitor
pesticides throughout their lifecycle. Moreover, a web-based Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) system would streamline operations by combining
functions like pesticide registration, agrovet licensing, and accreditation of
local efficacy trial institutions.
Most
importantly, county governments should strengthen their extension services to
support smallholder farmers in adopting Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
systems.
The
author is a researcher.