A recent performance audit by the Auditor-General has revealed significant weaknesses in Kenya’s pesticide safety oversight, raising concerns about food contamination risks for consumers.

The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has conducted limited pesticide residue monitoring, focusing on only four crops—kales, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes—across 12 of Kenya’s 47 counties between 2024 and mid-2025. The audit highlighted the absence of residue testing in water and environmental samples such as soil, and noted that the PCPB has not assessed the long-term environmental impacts of pesticide use.

Key findings from the audit include:

  • Limited pesticide residue studies restrict understanding of contamination levels in food and the environment.
  • Post-registration pesticide monitoring lacks a formal periodic review process and standard operating procedures, leading to potential continued use of harmful or ineffective products.
  • Only 29% of surveyed farmers reported receiving training on pesticide regulations and safe handling, increasing the risk of improper application and residue violations.
  • Data sharing between the Pest Control Products Board and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), which runs a National Pesticide Residue Monitoring Programme, is inadequate, hampering comprehensive regulatory decisions.

The audit also linked Kenya’s 54.7% decline in fresh vegetable exports between 2023 and 2024 partly to stringent European Union pesticide residue standards, underscoring the economic impact of weak oversight.

Recommendations from the Auditor-General include:

  • Establishing a nationwide pesticide residue monitoring programme that covers food, water, and environmental samples.
  • Implementing a formal periodic review cycle supported by clear operational procedures for registered pesticides.
  • Enhancing training and awareness programmes for farmers to promote safe pesticide use.
  • Creating structured data-sharing mechanisms between PCPB and KEPHIS to improve regulatory oversight.

These measures aim to strengthen Kenya’s pesticide regulation framework, protect public health, and support the country’s agricultural exports.