Gladys Boss Shollei, the National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Uasin Gishu Woman Representative, has called for the dismissal of the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) members after a shocking revelation about harmful pesticides still in use in Kenya.
Shollei has directed her concerns to Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Andrew Mwihia Karanja, demanding accountability for the continued approval of pesticides banned in other parts of the world.
In a heated session in the National Assembly on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, Shollei drew attention to a groundbreaking report by 20 scientists from the University of Nairobi, which revealed that 267 pesticides banned in Europe and the United States are still being used in Kenya.
This troubling information raises serious concerns about public health and the environment.
“There has been a document called a pesticide atlas that was developed by 20 scientists from the University of Nairobi. It has been confirmed that 267 pesticides that are banned in Europe and America are in use in Kenya,” Shollei said during her speech.
The PCPB, which is responsible for approving and regulating pesticides in the country, has faced harsh criticism from Shollei, who accused its members of dereliction of duty.
She pointed out that despite international bans on these harmful substances, they remain on Kenya’s approved list.
“The Pest Control Products Board is the one that is supposed to make the list of approved pesticides. Those banned pesticides are still on our list,” Shollei continued, expressing outrage over the failure of the Board to act.
In response to this oversight, Shollei revealed that she had submitted a petition to the Agriculture Minister requesting the removal of the PCPB members from office.
She called their actions irresponsible and dangerous, stressing that the continued use of such pesticides has put the health and safety of Kenyans at risk.
“The offenders here now are the Pest Control Products Board members. I have written a petition requesting for their removal from office to the Agriculture Minister because they have failed and endangered Kenyans’ lives,” she said, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
In a post on X, Shollei explained that she aims to get the harmful pesticides banned in Kenya.
“My petition to ban these harmful pesticides awaits action from the PCPB and the Ministry of Agriculture. Let’s protect our health!” She wrote.
Shollei’s calls have added to growing concerns about the regulation of harmful substances in Kenya, as more scrutiny is placed on the institutions tasked with protecting public health.
This issue comes amid broader debates about the safety of agricultural practices and consumer protection in the country.
The revelations from the University of Nairobi scientists and the subsequent outcry in Parliament have raised questions about the effectiveness of the country’s regulatory bodies and the political will to address such critical issues.
The call for action has put pressure on the Agriculture CS to take swift and decisive steps to remove these dangerous chemicals from circulation and ensure safer alternatives are in place.
As the issue unfolds, all eyes are on the Agriculture Ministry to take responsibility and address the concerns raised by Shollei, experts, and the public regarding the future of pesticide regulation in Kenya.
