Members of the National Assembly have put too task the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock over the continuous use of carcinogenic pesticides in the Country.

CS, Andrew Karanja had appeared before the National Assembly to answer to Members questions in line with the House Standing order 42(A) (6B).

The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Gladys Boss had sought answers from the Cabinet Secretary on the status of the Ministry in implementing the National Assembly’s resolutions in a petition against the use of carcinogenic products in Pesticides and steps being undertaken by the Ministry to ensure banned pesticides are withdrawn from the market.

In his response the CS informed the House that the Ministry had undertaken various steps to address the matter. Among them was the regulation and distribution of pesticide products by gazetting the Pest Control Products Inspection and Certification Regulations of 2024.

The House also heard that the Ministry had conducted an analysis of the pesticide products in the market and as a result the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) had banned 45 products from being sold in the country.

Members of Parliament were however not satisfied with the Ministers responses with Hon. Boss pointing out that among the products still in the market was Round Up which is banned in other jurisdictions. 

“In the United States of America, the Superior court of California awarded each farmer 250 million US Dollars against Monsato, for manufacturing and selling of the pesticide round up. The same Round-Up which has been banned is being sold to our farmers without checking while it has been banned all around the West and Europe," remarked  Hon. Boss

“Today if our farmers use these pesticides and send agricultural products abroad, the crops are tested and rejected with the entire containers being sent back to the country,” she further added.

In his response, the Cabinet Secretary cited that funding to the PCPB was a major factor hindering the establishment of a local laboratory facility to be used in analysing all the products being sold in the country. He however noted that the 63 pesticide samples studies that had been done in Nyandarua and Nakuru Counties had all displayed compliance with the PCPB set regulations.

Hon. Boss however disagreed, pointing out that a study carried out by 22 professors known as the pesticide atlas, had shown that the harmful products are indeed present in the pesticides sold locally.

Buuri MP, Hon Mugambi Rindikiri stated, “Meru and Kirinyaga Counties, which are among the most productive regions in this country when it comes to agricultural output, have among the highest prevalence of Cancer cases in Kenya.”

“I urge the Ministry to broaden its research are in order to understand the true picture of what these pesticides are doing to our people who are using these products to grow food.” He added.

Emuhaya MP, Hon. Omboko Milemba on his part called on the Minister to be given time to go back and come up with a comprehensive report on the matter.

“The minister is not telling this house the complete story. In his office there is a report giving this same Round up a clean bill of health. This matter needs to be looked at more thoroughly handle the matter once and for all.” Hon. Milemba stated.

Speaker Wetang’ula directed the CS gather sufficient research and reappear before the House on the matter.

“As a patriotic Kenyan, and as a country whose economy is rooted in agriculture, employing 70 percent of our workforce, it should concern Members of this House, that the right thing should be done so that we do not lose as a country. You have a duty to ensure as Minister that Kenya benefits from the universal scientific developments,” the Speaker directed.