Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has ordered intensified inspections of agrovet shops across Kenya as the government moves to crack down on illegal, counterfeit, expired and unauthorised pesticides.
The directive comes after the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) reported an estimated 95 per cent reduction in the entry of unauthorised and smuggled pesticides following tighter surveillance at Kenya’s borders and other entry points.
The next phase of the crackdown will now shift attention to the domestic market, where regulators are seeking to identify illegal products that may still be finding their way onto the shelves of agrovet outlets.
Nationwide inspections of agrovet shops
During engagements between the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Malindi, Kagwe said Kenya would not allow pesticides rejected in other countries because of health and safety concerns to be sold locally.
He said the government would protect farmers and consumers from potentially harmful products while ensuring Kenya does not become a dumping ground for pesticides banned elsewhere.
Kagwe also called for harmonised pesticide regulations across the East African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, arguing that products banned in one country should not simply be diverted to another market.
Under the planned inspections, PCPB officers will check whether pesticides sold in agrovet shops are registered, genuine, authorised for use and within their approved shelf life.
Expired, counterfeit, smuggled and unauthorised products will be removed from the market, while traders found handling them could face enforcement action.
Border surveillance cuts illegal imports
PCPB Chief Executive Officer Fredrick Muchiri said increased surveillance at border points has significantly disrupted the smuggling of unauthorised pesticides into Kenya.
The regulator has deployed officers at 10 major gazetted border points and ports, compared with 2024 when it had no officers permanently stationed at points of entry.
Surveillance has also been expanded to porous border areas, including sections around Loitoktok, which have previously been identified as potential routes for smuggled products.
According to Muchiri, these efforts have contributed to an estimated 95 per cent reduction in the entry of unauthorised and smuggled pesticides.
The regulator is also using spectrometer technology to help identify counterfeit and non-compliant products.
More than 80 per cent of cases arising from pesticide-related arrests have so far been successfully prosecuted, Muchiri said, adding that enforcement officers are receiving specialised training to strengthen investigations, evidence collection and prosecution.
77 pesticide products withdrawn from the market
The intensified enforcement follows a scientific review by the PCPB covering 430 end-use pesticide products.
The review resulted in 77 products being withdrawn from the Kenyan market, while 202 products were restricted for use on specific crops. A further 151 products remain under review.
| Outcome of PCPB review | Number of products |
|---|---|
| Withdrawn from the market | 77 |
| Restricted on certain crops | 202 |
| Under further review | 151 |
| Total reviewed | 430 |
Kagwe said decisions on pesticide regulation must be guided by scientific evidence, particularly where there are concerns about long-term chemical exposure and possible health risks.
The government is also pushing for a common regional approach that would prevent products banned in one country from being redirected into neighbouring markets.
What the crackdown means for farmers and consumers
The government says the crackdown is not only aimed at traders but is also intended to protect farmers, consumers and Kenya’s agricultural export industry.
PCPB has started training county agricultural extension officers on pesticide regulations, how to identify illegal products, responsible pesticide use and food safety requirements.
The officers are expected to act as a link between the regulator and farmers, particularly in areas where access to information about approved and banned products remains limited.
Senators also called for clearer and more accessible information to help farmers understand which pesticides are authorised, restricted or prohibited.
Muchiri, however, cautioned against automatically treating the detection of pesticide residues in food as evidence that food is unsafe.
He said food safety should be assessed against established Maximum Residue Limits, which determine the acceptable level of pesticide residues in food products.
According to the PCPB, about 80 per cent of reported samples met the required standards, while all samples assessed against applicable Maximum Residue Limits were within the prescribed safety limits.
Funding and staffing remain a challenge
Despite reporting progress at the borders, PCPB says it still faces staffing and funding constraints as it expands surveillance and inspections across the country.
The regulator’s Exchequer allocation has increased from about KSh114 million in 2024 to KSh216 million in the current financial year. Its approved staff establishment has also grown from around 60 positions to 275.
However, the board is seeking approximately KSh350 million in additional government funding to recruit and deploy more personnel and strengthen surveillance, inspections and enforcement.
For Kagwe and the Ministry of Agriculture, the challenge now will be to sustain the gains made at Kenya’s borders while taking the fight against illegal pesticides directly into agrovet shops and the wider domestic supply chain.
The planned inspections are expected to place agrovet dealers under closer scrutiny as the government seeks to ensure that only registered, safe and authorised products reach Kenyan farmers.
