Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has ordered intensified inspections of agrovet shops across the country as the Government steps up its crackdown on illegal, counterfeit and unauthorised pesticides.

The directive comes as the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) reports an estimated 95 per cent reduction in the entry of unauthorised and smuggled pesticides since the Government strengthened surveillance at Kenya’s borders and other points of entry.

Kagwe said Kenya would not allow pesticides that have been banned elsewhere over health and safety concerns to find a market locally, arguing that farmers and consumers must be protected from products considered harmful.

“My pronouncement is clear: a pesticide banned anywhere in the world will be banned in Kenya. Within our region, if a product is banned in any one country, it should be banned in all countries within the EAC, and we are pushing for the same position across COMESA,” Kagwe said.

The CS spoke during engagements between the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development in Malindi.

He said Kenya should not become a destination for pesticides rejected in other markets and called for harmonised regulations within the East African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa to prevent banned products from being diverted to neighbouring countries.

PCPB Chief Executive Officer Fredrick Muchiri said the regulator has deployed officers at 10 major gazetted border points and ports, compared with 2024, when it did not have officers permanently stationed at points of entry.

He said increased surveillance, including monitoring of porous sections of the Loitoktok border, had helped disrupt routes used to smuggle pesticides into the country.

The regulator is now turning its attention to the domestic market, where inspections of agrovet outlets are expected to intensify.

PCPB officers will check whether products on sale are registered, genuine, authorised for use and within their approved shelf life. Expired, counterfeit, smuggled and unauthorised pesticides will be removed, with enforcement action taken against those found handling them.

The regulator is also using spectrometer technology to identify counterfeit and non-conforming products.

According to Muchiri, more than 80 per cent of cases arising from pesticide-related arrests have so far been successfully prosecuted. Enforcement officers are also receiving specialised training at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Training School to improve investigations, evidence collection and prosecution.

The tougher stance follows a scientific review by PCPB covering 430 end-use pesticide products.

The review resulted in 77 products being withdrawn from the Kenyan market, while 202 products were restricted on various crops and 151 others were placed under further review.

Kagwe said the regulatory process must remain guided by scientific evidence, particularly where there are concerns about long-term exposure to chemicals and potential health risks.

The Government’s position also extends to regional pesticide regulation, with Kenya pushing for a common approach within the EAC and eventually COMESA.

Muchiri also sought to clarify concerns surrounding pesticide residues in food, cautioning against automatically equating the detection of a residue with unsafe food.

He said food safety should be assessed against established Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), which determine the permitted level of a pesticide residue in food.

According to the PCPB CEO, about 80 per cent of reported samples met the required standards, while all samples assessed against applicable MRLs were within the prescribed safety limits.

He urged researchers and other stakeholders to engage regulatory institutions when interpreting pesticide-residue findings, warning that poorly contextualised reports could unnecessarily alarm consumers, hurt farmers and affect agricultural exports.

Senators also called for clearer and more accessible information on banned, restricted and authorised pesticides to reach farmers.

In response, PCPB has begun training county agricultural extension officers on pesticide regulation, identification of illegal products, responsible pesticide use and food-safety requirements.

The officers are expected to become a direct link between the regulator and farmers, helping producers identify legitimate products and understand how pesticides should be handled and applied.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairperson David Wakoli led calls for better dissemination of information to farmers, particularly in areas where access to regulatory guidance remains limited.

Despite the progress reported at the borders, Muchiri said the regulator continues to face staffing and funding constraints.

PCPB’s Exchequer allocation has increased from approximately KSh114 million in 2024 to KSh216 million in the current financial year. Its approved staff establishment has also expanded from about 60 positions to 275.

However, the regulator is seeking approximately KSh350 million in additional Exchequer support to recruit and deploy more personnel and strengthen surveillance, inspections and enforcement.

The funding would help address remaining gaps at border points while expanding inspections in agrovet outlets across the country.

For the Ministry, the next phase of the crackdown will therefore focus on sustaining the gains made at the borders while taking the enforcement campaign deeper into the domestic pesticide supply chain.

The Government is also seeking common pesticide-control measures across the EAC and COMESA, a move it says would help prevent products banned in one country from simply being redirected to another market.

The approach places greater emphasis on protecting farmers and consumers while safeguarding Kenya’s agricultural exports from the reputational and economic risks associated with unsafe or non-compliant pesticide use.