By Daniel Otieno, Nairobi
The government has announced a sweeping ban and restriction of harmful pesticides in a bold policy shift aimed at safeguarding public health and protecting the environment.
The move by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe followed a comprehensive review of pesticide use in the country.
The Ministry stated that the decision followed scientific assessments and extensive stakeholder consultations led by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), the regulatory authority responsible for ensuring pest control products meet human safety and environmental standards.
“The health of our citizens and the integrity of our ecosystems must come first,” ~ Kagwe
The ministry s explained that over 430 pesticide active ingredients currently registered in Kenya were reviewed, resulting in the identification of several products that pose what the ministry described as “unacceptable risks” to people, crops, livestock, and ecosystems.
CS Kagwe announced the complete withdrawal of 77 end-use pesticide products from the Kenyan market, the restriction of 202 products to specific uses or crops, and the suspension of 151 other products still under review. Final decisions on the suspended products are expected by December 2025.
“The health of our citizens and the integrity of our ecosystems must come first,” read part of the ministry’s statement, which described the move as aligning Kenya with international best practices and reinforcing the country’s commitment to environmental stewardship and food safety.
Among the restricted pesticides is 2,4-D Amine, which is now banned for use in coffee farming. Others include Abamectin, which will no longer be allowed in open-field applications, and Chlorpyrifos, which has been limited strictly to termiticide use.
The ministry also named Iprodione and Omethoate among the products restricted from use on edible crops, while the importation of Oxydemeton-methyl has been halted entirely pending further review.
Several widely used active ingredients have been withdrawn altogether. These include Acephate, Chlorothalonil, Pymetrozine, Thiacloprid, and Kasugamycin, which were commonly used as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides.
The ministry indicated that the risks associated with these substances, ranging from toxicity to persistence in the environment, outweighed their agricultural benefits.
Additionally, the Ministry reiterated that certain pesticides already banned in other jurisdictions remain prohibited in Kenya.
These include DDT, Aldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Ethylene Dibromide, and Parathion, all of which are classified as highly hazardous and persistent organic pollutants. Officials stressed that the country would no longer allow such substances to be used or imported.
To prevent future entry of banned or unsafe products through regulatory loopholes, the Ministry announced a tightened import framework. Officials stated that any pest control product registered in Kenya must also be registered in its country of origin.
Furthermore, PCPs banned under international multilateral environmental agreements would not be permitted, and any chemical molecules under review and not approved in the EU, USA, Australia, or Canada would be blocked from import pending evaluation.
“The new rules will help prevent harmful chemicals from slipping through cracks in the system,” the ministry said, adding that only products that meet international safety benchmarks would be permitted.
The government also announced measures to support farmers during the transition. According to the ministry, efforts are underway to boost extension services and educate farmers on safer, more sustainable pest management methods.
The officials added that the Cabinet has already approved a Draft Pest Control Products Bill, which once passed by Parliament, will strengthen regulatory oversight and legal enforcement mechanisms.
