Illegal pesticides worth over Sh3 million seized in Garissa

Lawrence Kalalwa, the General Manager for compliance and enforcement at PCPB speaking in a press briefing at the Garissa police station, September 27, 2025. /KNA

The Pest Control Products Board has seized illegal pesticides worth over Sh3 million in a crackdown to curb the use of unauthorised and harmful pesticides from the market in Garissa.

Speaking to the press after the two-day crackdown in Garissa, Lawrence Kalawa, the general manager for compliance and enforcement at PCPB, regretted that some businesspeople were taking the advantage of the porous borders to smuggle illegal products from our neighbouring countries, thus putting the lives of the Kenyan consumers at risk.

The general manager said that there are at least 42 active court cases, and 30 successful prosecutions for suspects arrested over the illegal pesticide trading following the countrywide crackdowns.

Kalawa said that all businesspersons in the pesticides sector must submit their request for permission to operate in the country.

He noted that all pesticide products must be inspected, and safety stickers put on them by the PCPB before they are allowed in the Kenyan Market.

“All businesspeople in the country who are in the pesticides business are required by law to submit their applications for registration and subsequent permitting for them to trade in pesticides. Importation of these pesticides is also guided by law, and to only import what is allowed for use in Kenya,” Kalawa said.

“After putting all these systems together, there are some traders who are engaging themselves in illegal pesticide trade and importing unauthorized products from our bordering countries of Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, or even as far as China without registration,” he added.

At the same time, Kalawa warned all traders in the pesticides sector operating illegally without permits or selling unauthorised products to stop before the law catches up with them.

“We are putting a warning to all Agro dealers and all businesspeople who are trading with unauthorised pesticides that we will be at your doorstep. Please withdraw them immediately before we catch up with you,” he said.