Pesticides: Chemistry, Manufacturing, Regulation, Usage and Impacts on Population in Kenya

Abstract

Pesticide use in Kenya plays a critical role in socio-economic development because its economy depends heavily on agriculture, which contributes to 30% of the GDP and accounts for 60% of export earnings. For agriculture and public health vector control, the country relies on pesticides, most of which (95%) are formulated products imported from China, India and Germany as the top exporters. In this chapter, we present the chemistry, manufacturing, importation and regulatory processes regarding pesticides in Kenya as well as their usage and impacts. All the various categories, organochlorine, organophosphate, carbamate, pyrethroid, neonicotinod insectides, as well as fungicides, herbicides and biopesticides, which are used in the country, are considered. A total of 1,447 and 157, which include formulations and active ingredients, respectively, for use in agriculture and public health sectors, with sufficient information on their usages and toxicities, are listed on the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) database that is available to the public. A significant number of studies have been conducted in major agricultural regions, which have characterized pesticides, their toxicities, the types of crops and pests, the usage and human and environmental health risk indices, since the 2000, but the reports have not made any impacts on pesticide regulation, as some of the very toxic active ingredients, belonging to the WHO Class I and II, are still reported by farmers. However, a recent call from NGO’s made an impact in government and parliament, and a bill was introduced in 2020 with the aim of banning some of the toxic ones that have already been withdrawn from the EU market.