The Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) has seized fake and unregistered home and farm pesticides valued at approximately Ksh600,000 in a major crackdown across Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi counties.
The nationwide operation is part of the government’s ongoing effort to stamp out illegal pesticides that endanger public health, destroy crops, and threaten food security.
Speaking in Embu after the Wednesday operation, PCPB General Manager for Compliance and Enforcement, Lawrence Kalawa, said many of the seized products were smuggled into the country and sold cheaply to unsuspecting farmers.
He warned that these unregulated chemicals may contain banned or toxic ingredients that pose severe health risks to users and long-term damage to soils and the environment.
“These counterfeit products do more harm than good to crops. We are determined to protect farmers and consumers from their dangerous effects,” Kalawa said.
He added that the short rains planting season often creates a surge in demand for pesticides, which rogue traders exploit to flood the market with fake products.
“We have mounted this crackdown to protect farmers during the planting season. Unscrupulous traders take advantage of high demand to sell harmful and ineffective chemicals,” he explained.
Kalawa urged farmers to buy pesticides only from certified agro-vet outlets registered with the PCPB, stressing that genuine products carry official safety stickers as proof of approval.
He further cautioned traders dealing in unregistered or counterfeit pesticides to stop their illegal operations or face prosecution.
“We will not relent in this mission. Anyone found selling fake or unauthorized pesticides will face the full force of the law,” he warned.
The PCPB said the crackdown will continue nationwide as part of broader government efforts to protect Kenya’s agricultural sector from harmful and substandard farm inputs while promoting sustainable and safe food production.
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