December 11, 2025
The Kenyan government is set to introduce tighter regulations on the online sale of pesticides through a new legislative proposal aimed at closing gaps in the pesticide market. The Pest Control Products Bill, brought forward by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, seeks to regulate digital marketplaces by ensuring that only certified sellers can list pesticide products that are officially registered with a newly proposed regulatory body.
As more agricultural inputs, especially pesticides, are increasingly sold via digital platforms, concerns have grown over the proliferation of uncertified sellers who bypass safety checks and quality standards. These loopholes have exposed farmers and consumers to potentially harmful and unregulated products, raising health and environmental risks.
The proposed Bill explicitly states that no online platform will be permitted to offer pesticide sales or advertise products unless all sellers using the platform are certified by the newly proposed regulatory body, the Pest Control Products Authority. Moreover, every pesticide product available online must be registered with this Authority, which will be empowered to enforce compliance with national standards.
Under this legislation, Digital marketplaces will face substantial responsibilities. They must now incorporate verification systems to authenticate that sellers have valid licenses and that every pesticide product listed meets registration requirements. This will represent a significant shift in how online platforms operate, as they will have to align their seller onboarding and product catalog processes with the Authority’s central database to automatically validate certifications and registrations.
Non-compliance could attract serious penalties, including fines of up to Sh50,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. These sanctions aim to deter illegal pesticide sales and ensure accountability across the supply chain.
A key component of the Bill is the creation of the Pest Control Products Authority, which will serve as the main national regulator for pesticides. The Authority’s duties include registering pest control products, licensing dealers such as manufacturers, formulators, distributors, and retailers, enforcing quality and safety standards, and maintaining national registers. These registers will catalogue certified dealers, approved products, licensed facilities, and the outcomes of inspections—thus facilitating enhanced traceability and oversight of pesticide transactions throughout the country.
The Bill also places new obligations on county governments, empowering them to conduct inspections and monitor pesticide movements locally. This collaboration between national and county authorities aims to crack down on illegal distribution networks and curb unsafe pesticide circulation.
Environmental and health safety measures are strengthened under the new law by mandating that only approved waste management facilities handle expired or unused pesticides. The Bill requires structured disposal procedures and coordinated monitoring to prevent unsafe dumping practices, which have been a longstanding environmental concern.
In addition, the legislation allows for scientific re-evaluation of pesticides already on the market. If new evidence emerges indicating unacceptable risks to human health, environmental damage, or failure of risk mitigation measures, the Authority can restrict or withdraw these products promptly, ensuring that regulations evolve with emerging scientific knowledge.
Overall, this Bill promises to bring comprehensive reform to Kenya’s pesticide ecosystem by introducing uniform licensing, robust regulatory oversight, and stricter controls on online sales. Digital marketplaces will no longer be passive conduits but active participants in pesticide safety compliance, reflecting a modernized approach to agricultural chemical regulation in the digital age.
If passed into law, the Pest Control Products Bill will offer safer access to pesticides, protect farmers’ health, safeguard the environment, and strengthen Kenya’s agricultural sector by promoting responsible pesticide management from manufacturing through to end sale and disposal. The new framework positions the country to address current challenges in pesticide control while anticipating future threats and opportunities afforded by digital commerce.