The Ministry of Health has urged Kenyans to thoroughly wash vegetables before eating them, saying the simple practice can reduce pesticide residues by between 60 and 70 per cent.
The call follows the release of a new study that detected pesticide residues in most vegetable samples collected from major markets in Nairobi and Nakuru.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said the Ministry had reviewed the findings of a study conducted by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), the University of Nairobi and SGS Kenya Laboratories, describing it as an important contribution to strengthening food safety in the country.
"The Ministry of Health has taken note of the recently published study by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), the University of Nairobi and SGS Kenya Laboratories, which found detectable pesticide residues in a majority of vegetable samples tested from major markets in Nairobi and Nakuru. We thank the researchers for this important contribution to the country's food safety evidence base," said Muthoni.
The study found that commonly consumed vegetables, particularly kale and spinach, contained multiple pesticide residues, raising concerns over the potential health effects of prolonged exposure.
However, Muthoni reassured the public that the findings should not discourage people from eating vegetables.
"The ministry recognises the seriousness of these findings, particularly regarding kale and spinach samples found to carry multiple pesticide residues. We wish to assure the public that the presence of detectable residues does not mean that eating vegetables poses an immediate health danger. The concern raised by the study relates to long-term, cumulative exposure, not acute risk from any single meal. Kenyans should continue to include vegetables as part of a healthy, balanced diet," she said.
The ministry emphasised that proper household food preparation can significantly lower pesticide exposure.
"The ministry also notes the study's finding that simple household preparation practices like thorough washing, soaking and peeling where appropriate, can reduce pesticide residues by 60 to 70 per cent before consumption. We encourage all households to adopt these practices as a practical, immediate safeguard," Muthoni added.
Beyond advising consumers, the ministry announced a series of measures aimed at improving food safety across the country. These include working closely with the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and county governments to strengthen routine surveillance and testing of fresh produce sold in public markets.
The government also plans to review and strengthen enforcement of maximum residue level standards and ensure farmers comply with recommended pre-harvest intervals before harvesting crops. In addition, public education campaigns on safe food handling and preparation will be intensified to help reduce household exposure to pesticide residues.
The Ministry further said it will engage farmers and agrochemical regulators to promote safer and more sustainable pest management practices, including integrated pest management, while convening an inter-agency food safety task force to review the study's findings and recommend any necessary regulatory action.
Muthoni said the ministry will continue monitoring the situation closely and provide updates as further testing and interventions are undertaken, while encouraging Kenyans to continue consuming vegetables as part of a healthy diet but to ensure they are properly cleaned before eating or cooking them.
The study by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN) and the University of Nairobi found that 78 per cent of vegetables sold in markets in Nairobi and Nakuru contain pesticide residues, with one in three samples exceeding European Union safety limits.
The findings have raised food safety concerns, prompting some communities, including boda boda riders in Mathare, to turn to organic farming as a safer alternative.
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