This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
On September 26, 2019, a heated debate erupted between health and agriculture officials in Kenya over the safety of a widely used herbicide.
Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache told the Senate that research had established a possible human health effect from exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides, commonly known as Roundup.
However, Agriculture Principal Secretary Prof Hamadi Boga countered that scientific evidence had not linked the herbicide to cancer in humans under normal use.
Prof Boga argued that glyphosate targets plants, not animals, and is degradable, making the debate about trust rather than safety.
Ms Mochache, on the other hand, cited evidence of glyphosate being detected in air, water, food, and the blood and urine of agricultural workers, warning of potential health risks including eye damage, skin irritation, kidney failure, and cancer.
