This archive report was first published on 24 August 2019.
Kenya's food security and public health are under threat due to the increasing use of pesticides in the country. In the last four years, the use of pesticides has risen by 144 per cent, with many farmers resorting to toxic chemicals to protect their crops or make them look 'healthy' for sale.
According to a recent report by the Route to Food Initiative (RTFI), at least 32 per cent of the pesticides in use in Kenya have been linked to cancer, reproduction or fertility issues, and neurological ailments. This is a worrying trend, especially when one considers that the sale of unsafe food is becoming a normal occurrence in Kenya.
Just a few weeks ago, an exposé by local media revealed that certain supermarket outlets were preserving meat using toxic chemicals. Cases of vegetables being grown in raw sewage and toxic polluted city rivers are also rife. The question that begs a response is, why are harmful products so easily available to farmers? Why are government agencies not effectively monitoring pesticide residue levels to ensure that they are within the acceptable safety limits?
The government has a constitutional mandate to protect its citizens. It is not an unreasonable demand therefore, that it should ensure that the food that we are growing and that is being sold locally, is fit for human consumption. Our food security, health, environment and peace of mind are at stake.
As an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, I believe that the government should take immediate action to address this issue. This includes ensuring that pesticide imports and use are strictly monitored, and official, reliable information made publicly available. Government agencies should further enhance information sharing with other countries on incidents with pesticides, regulatory actions taken, and experiences with alternatives to highly hazardous pesticides.
The precautionary principle should guide pesticide regulation in Kenya; where enough data is not available, the pesticide should not be in use. It is time for the government to take a fundamental shift in its approach to pesticide regulation and prioritize the health and well-being of its citizens.
