Pest Control Products Board inspectors have seized another consignment of illegal pesticides in Lunga Lunga.

Led by the Regional Manager Stanley Nganga, the officers nabbed the illegal consignment of 230kg of Malex that did not have an import permit.

The 74 boxes of the illegal products have a street value of over KSh 200,000.

This comes barely two weeks after another container of illegal pesticides was impounded at MICT Container Freight Station in Mombasa.

In October last year, the Pesticides Control Products Board dismissed claims that the Kenyan market was flooded with hazardous products.

Its acting CEO Fredrick Muchiri said the board was employing strategic measures to curb influx of unapproved pesticides which could hurt farmers.

“Ensuring consumer and pesticide user safety is our top priority. Food safety is key during approval of pesticides that is why Maximum Residue Levels  are required,” he added.

Pesticides play a crucial role in safeguarding crop production by combating pests and disease-causing agents.

He particularly dismissed a report by Route to Food Initiative which revealed that 76 per cent of the total volume of pesticides sold in Kenya contained one or more hazardous ingredients.

Mr Muchiri termed the report as misleading. Route to Food Initiative pushes for ban of toxic pesticides which have already been declared illegal for use in other countries.

“The EU has withdrawn the use at their level and there can be other reasons for that. The North of the EU is cooler while the South is warmer. The warmer areas have a myriad of pest problem just like in Africa,” he added.

This comes against the backdrop of a growing motion on use of environmental friendly substances in efforts to reverse worrying climatic change globally.

President William Ruto has been championing for the ‘Go Green Initiative’ within Africa, earning recognition from the West.