November 20, 2025
Experts from East Africa are urgently calling for stronger measures to eliminate toxic pesticides and promote safer, sustainable farming practices due to growing concerns about their health and environmental impacts. In a regional symposium held in Kisumu, scientists, farmers, and environmental advocates highlighted the dangers posed by synthetic pesticides, many of which remain in use despite bans elsewhere.
Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture took a significant step in June by withdrawing 77 pesticide products and restricting 202 others, while still reviewing 151 more. However, enforcement of these bans and raising awareness remain critical challenges, as banned pesticides are reportedly still accessible in some agro-shops, though hidden from view. Elizabeth Achieng of Greenpeace Africa emphasized that environmental harm from pesticides tends to be gradual and less visible but no less damaging, affecting the very ecosystems that support food production.
The symposium was part of a six-year collaborative project, funded by the Norwegian government, involving universities and research institutions across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The initiative aims to strengthen capacity in environmental and medical anthropology to better understand pesticide impacts on health and the environment.
Participants stressed the urgent need for affordable, viable alternatives to chemical pesticides to protect both public health and farmers’ livelihoods. Agroecology emerged as a leading solution, focusing on natural pest management, soil conservation, and biodiversity. This approach has been shown to increase productivity while reducing dependence on harmful chemical inputs.
County-level implementation was underscored as vital since agriculture is devolved in Kenya. Progressive counties such as Murang’a, Makueni, Kajiado, and West Pokot have already developed or are finalizing agroecology policies. Advocates urge that beyond policy creation, effective monitoring systems must be established to ensure policies translate into real-world safer farming outcomes. By reducing reliance on costly and toxic agricultural inputs, farmers can improve health outcomes, lower expenses, and promote environmental sustainability.