A fresh audit presented to Parliament has painted a worrying picture of pesticide regulation in Kenya, finding that failures by government agencies have allowed harmful and even banned chemicals to find their way into farms and food, exposing millions of people to health and environmental risks.
The performance audit by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu says the country's system for controlling pesticides is failing to provide the protection expected under the law.
It points to weak enforcement, poor coordination among regulators and limited monitoring as some of the key shortcomings that have left farmers, consumers and ecosystems vulnerable to dangerous chemicals.
The report says the weaknesses also threaten government efforts to boost food production, create jobs and grow exports under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), as unsafe pesticide practices continue to affect both local food safety and international market access.
The review identifies the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) as the institution mandated to regulate the importation, manufacture, distribution and use of pesticides. However, the audit says the board has not fully carried out its responsibilities, allowing unsafe products to remain available despite existing laws and inspections.
“There is limited awareness creation to farmers and agro-dealers on proper use and disposal of pesticides and pesticide waste,” the audit states.
It adds that poor handling and disposal of pesticides continue to expose people to toxic substances while polluting soil and water resources.
The audit covered the period from the 2021/22 financial year to March 2026 and was undertaken between September 2024 and March 2026. It examined pesticide regulation in Nairobi, Kisumu, Busia, Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Embu, Kirinyaga, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Nyandarua and Nakuru counties. The areas were selected based on farming activities, proximity to border entry points and previous compliance records.
Auditors engaged agro-dealers together with both small-scale and large-scale farmers to establish how pesticides are supplied, used and disposed of, and whether the current regulatory system is adequately protecting human health, biodiversity and the environment.
The assessment also examined the responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro), the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), county governments, the Agrochemicals Association of Kenya (AAK) and pesticide users.
According to Gathungu, weak monitoring of imported pesticides and poor enforcement have made it easier for unsafe products to enter and remain in the Kenyan market.
“While the broader target is to improve agricultural productivity to guarantee food security, create jobs and increase Kenya’s exports, the potential misuse of pesticides poses significant risks that could undermine achievement of the government’s development agenda,” she says.
The report notes that while pesticides remain essential in controlling crop pests and improving agricultural output, they can also pose serious risks to people, animals and the environment if they are not properly regulated.
It further explains that the Pest Control Products Act gives PCPB the legal responsibility of overseeing pesticides throughout their lifecycle. The Food and Agriculture Organisation defines pesticides as substances used to repel, destroy or control pests or regulate plant growth, but warns that misuse can contaminate food, soil and water while harming organisms they are not intended to target.
The audit says concerns over pesticide regulation are not new. In November 2024, Members of Parliament sought a progress report from the then Agriculture Cabinet Secretary on recommendations made after a petition calling for the removal of cancer-causing pesticides from the local market.
Before that, the National Assembly had directed PCPB to strengthen surveillance and enforcement to improve the quality and safety of pest control products. Despite those directives, the report says many of the concerns remain unresolved.
The audit also cites findings from a 2026 market survey by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN) and the Route to Food Initiative, which detected pesticide residues in more than 70 per cent of vegetable samples collected from major markets. Tomatoes recorded the highest contamination levels among the vegetables tested.
The report says weak regulation is also affecting the country's export performance. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Economic Survey 2025 shows that Kenya's fresh vegetable exports dropped from 164,100 tonnes in 2023 to 74,300 tonnes in 2024, representing a decline of 54.7 per cent.
According to the audit, a TradeMark Africa report links part of that decline to the European Union's strict limits on pesticide residues, showing the economic cost of failing to enforce safety standards.
Among the major weaknesses identified is the lack of a structured post-registration surveillance system. Auditors found that PCPB does not regularly review pesticides already approved for use to determine whether they remain safe, whether pests have become resistant or whether the chemicals continue to contaminate food, water and soil.
The report also points to the continued sale of products that fail to meet regulatory requirements, weak follow-up after inspections, low awareness among farmers on the safe handling and disposal of pesticides, limited monitoring of pesticide residues and poor coordination between PCPB, county governments and other agencies.
Other shortcomings include the absence of PCPB officers at important border entry points, limited collaboration with the agrochemical industry on the disposal of pesticide waste and empty containers, and poor information sharing between PCPB and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service.
To improve oversight, the Auditor-General recommends that PCPB introduce a structured follow-up inspection programme and include routine inspections in its annual work plans to ensure traders found violating regulations comply with corrective measures.
The report further notes that Kephis is responsible for carrying out pesticide residue trials, publishing the findings and working with PCPB to guide regulatory decisions. Kalro undertakes pesticide research, product development and pest management studies, while the Anti-Counterfeit Authority works with other agencies to curb the circulation of fake pesticide products in the country.