Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Monday, June 23, announced the withdrawal of 77 end-use pesticides from the Kenyan Market, citing safety concerns.

In a statement, Kagwe said that the directive was necessitated by the need to review pesticides currently registered in the Kenyan market to ensure all pest control products are safe for both human health and the environment.

This was after the appraisal conducted by the Pest Control and Licensing Board (PCLB) examined 430 products, leading to the identification of products that pose risks to human health, livestock, crops, and the environment.

Consequently, the restriction of the use of 202 products on various crops, and another 151 were put under review by the PCPB, to be approved by December 2025.

The Ministry has also directed that all PCP products considered for registration in Kenya must also be registered in their country of origin.

Among the banned products are Ethylene dichloride, a fumigant; alachlor, a herbicide; chlordane, an insecticide; and Dichlorophenyl Trichloroethane. These products have been indefinitely withdrawn from the Kenyan market.

The directive also states that all internationally banned products shall not be registered for use in Kenya.

“This action is part of our continuous efforts to align Kenya’s agricultural practices with international best standards, ensure food safety for all Kenyans and promote sustainable agriculture,” Kagwe said.

Both distributors, retailers, and farmers have been urged to strictly adhere to the new directives to ensure safety for all Kenyan consumers.