The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has intensified surveillance at Kenya’s borders and expanded farmer education programmes as part of a renewed campaign to keep illegal pesticides out of the market and promote the safe use of crop protection products.

While counterfeit and unregistered pesticides account for only a small fraction of the country’s pesticide market, regulators say their presence continues to pose risks to food safety, public health and the environment, making enforcement and farmer awareness equally important.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement, PCPB Compliance and Enforcement General Manager Lawrence Kalawa said the Board is placing greater emphasis on compliance and education to help farmers distinguish genuine, registered products from illegal alternatives.

“Nearly 80 per cent of our work focuses on compliance, including educating farmers, agro-dealers and other stakeholders on how to identify genuine, registered pesticides and use them safely,” he said.

According to Kalawa, the vast majority of pesticides available in Kenya are registered and comply with the country’s regulatory requirements. However, a small volume of unauthorised products continues to find its way into the market through porous borders, illegal local manufacturing and false import declarations at the Port of Mombasa.

To curb the illegal trade, PCPB has stationed officers at ten major border posts and strengthened inspections at the Port of Mombasa, where shipping documents and cargo manifests are scrutinised before vessels are cleared.

The enhanced surveillance, together with collaboration with other government agencies, has enabled authorities to intercept illegal consignments before they enter the market.

“In one recent operation, officials seized a container carrying 0.26 tonnes of unauthorised pesticides before it was cleared at the Port of Mombasa, and the case is now before the courts,” Kalawa said.

Illegal products remain a small share of the market
PCPB data shows that Kenya imported approximately 22,000 tonnes of registered pesticides during the year ending June 30, while only about eight tonnes of unauthorised pesticides were detected in circulation—representing well below one per cent of the total market.

Of these, around 1.5 tonnes were intercepted at border points, largely from neighbouring countries.

The Board is currently pursuing 51 court cases involving illegal pesticides. During the last financial year, four cases resulted in convictions, with offenders fined between Sh100,000 and Sh750,000.

Despite the ongoing enforcement operations, Kalawa believes lasting success will depend on eliminating demand for illegal products.

“If farmers know how to identify genuine products, there will be no market for illegal pesticides. Without a market, the illegal trade cannot survive,” he said.

To make verification easier, PCPB has published an online database containing all registered pesticides together with their approved labels. The Board is also training county agricultural officers and lead farmers, while awareness campaigns are being conducted through vernacular radio stations, agricultural exhibitions and ASK shows.

Correct pesticide use remains critical
Beyond tackling illegal products, PCPB is urging farmers to follow label instructions carefully to ensure pesticides perform effectively while protecting consumers and the environment.

Kalawa dismissed the perception that registered pesticides are ineffective, explaining that every product undergoes rigorous efficacy trials before approval.

He noted that poor pest control is often the result of incorrect application rather than product failure. Common mistakes include using expired products, applying lower-than-recommended rates, spraying crops for which the pesticide is not registered and failing to achieve adequate crop coverage.

“Farmers should always follow the instructions on the product label. Using the correct dosage, applying the pesticide to the recommended crop and observing the correct application methods are essential for effective pest control and food safety,” he said.

Kalawa added that precision technologies such as drone spraying can improve application accuracy by providing more uniform coverage, reducing chemical wastage and minimising operators’ exposure to pesticides.

Routine laboratory surveillance, he said, continues to record compliance levels of more than 90 per cent among registered pesticides available on the Kenyan market.

Industry calls for stronger stewardship
Industry players echoed the need for continuous farmer training and responsible stewardship throughout the crop protection value chain.

AAK Grow Chief Executive Officer Joel Mutai said the association is working closely with regulators to promote responsible pesticide use, proper disposal of empty containers and adherence to pre-harvest intervals.

The association, which represents importers, formulators and manufacturers of pest control products, has also established a self-regulatory system aimed at ensuring only quality, registered products reach farmers.

“Farmers should always verify that the product is registered, apply it according to the label and wait for the recommended number of days before harvesting. These simple practices are essential in producing safe food,” Mutai said.

Although access to crop protection products has improved significantly, he said many growers still require more guidance on product selection, safe handling, container disposal and compliance with pre-harvest intervals.

He encouraged farmers to seek advice from qualified agronomists and purchase pesticides only from licensed agro-dealers.

“The biggest gap is knowledge transfer. We need to be much more proactive in ensuring farmers understand how to handle these products, how to dispose of pesticide containers safely and how to observe pre-harvest intervals. All this information is critical in ensuring farmers produce safe food for consumers,” Karanja said.

Building trust through compliance
The renewed crackdown on illegal pesticides comes at a time when food safety, traceability and responsible crop protection practices are becoming increasingly important in both domestic and export markets.

Although illegal pesticides account for only a very small proportion of Kenya’s crop protection market, regulators and industry leaders agree that continued investment in farmer education, extension services, product stewardship and digital verification systems will be essential in protecting consumers, safeguarding the environment and maintaining confidence in Kenyan agricultural produce.