I’ll ban toxic pesticides to protect Kenyans, says Agriculture CS nominee

The nominee for Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja has pledged to impose a ban on harmful pesticides if confirmed for the position.

Karanja was responding to concerns raised by Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Shollei regarding harmful pesticides imported into the country.

Shollei wondered why over 200 banned pesticides are still being imported to and used in Kenya despite their prohibition in their countries of origin due to their association with diseases such as cancer.

“We have 267 banned pesticides available in Kenya, manufactured in Europe and North America but not used in those countries. These pesticides are produced solely for export to African countries that accept them. This has been something that has been on the table to ensure that those products are removed from our market because they have been confirmed to have caused cancer and people in North America have even been paid billions of shillings in damages due to cancer caused by these pesticides,” Shollei said.

In response, Karanja assured MPs that he would act decisively against the pesticides, asserting that Kenyans should not be taking poison.

“If approved, I will ban the pesticides as they have caused a lot of havoc in terms of even threatening some of our exports. For instance, in horticulture exports, some of the residues are coming from the banned pesticides. I will not hesitate to ban them if I become the CS. I don’t see why they should be on our list. Kenyans should not be taking poison,” he said during the vetting session on Friday.

In February, the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) raised the alarm over the influx and usage of unregistered and illegal pesticides into the mainstream markets in the country.

PCPB Coast Regional Manager Stanley Ng’ang’a said the board had flagged several consignments of unauthorised pesticide products that made their way into the country and falsely declared during clearance at various points of entry.

“We have managed to intercept and gotten tip-offs of huge consignments at various points of entry, including a 23,700kg container at Boss Freight CFS that was shipped into the country from Ningbo, China and falsely declared and cleared, contrary to the laid down procedure,” he said.

Ng’ang’a said the incidents have prompted PCPB to take stringent measures to enforce compliance and regulate the entry of authorised pesticides into the country, despite incidents still increasing.