By Juliet Akoth I julietakoth19@gmail.com
Kenyan journalists will on November 13 meet in Nairobi for a media roundtable examining pesticide regulation, public health and agroecology, amid growing concerns over the safety of agricultural chemicals and the effectiveness of the country’s regulatory framework.
The engagement, organised by the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA) in partnership with Heinrich Böll Stiftung (HBS), Nairobi Office, will bring together approximately 25 journalists covering agriculture, health, environment, science and public policy.
The discussions will centre on the Pest Control Products Bill, 2025, which seeks to repeal and replace the existing Pest Control Products Act (Cap. 346) and re-establish the Pest Control Products Authority.
While the proposed legislation aims to modernise pesticide governance in Kenya, a coalition of civil society organisations, including Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya, the Intersectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology (ISFAA) and the Route to Food Initiative, has raised concerns over gaps in the proposed framework.
In a memorandum submitted on the Bill, the coalition argues that the proposed legislation largely retains the existing regulatory approach and does not adequately incorporate internationally recognised precautionary standards, Kenya’s constitutional obligations and commitments under international agreements on pesticide and chemicals management.
The concerns include the distinction between hazard-based and risk-based approaches to pesticide regulation, the independence and accountability of the Pest Control Products Authority, public access to scientific information used in pesticide registration and the treatment of biological and ecological alternatives.
The coalition has also questioned the absence of a clearly defined, time-bound review of existing pesticide registrations, particularly in light of concerns about products registered in Kenya but banned in their countries of origin on health or environmental grounds.
The proposed roundtable comes against the backdrop of ongoing public and policy discussions on pesticide safety in Kenya. In June 2025, the government announced the withdrawal of 77 pesticide products from the market and restrictions on the use of 202 others following a review by the Pest Control Products Board.
Previous media engagements have also sought to strengthen public understanding of pesticide use and food safety.
During the November roundtable, journalists will receive training on reporting scientific evidence and agricultural policy, followed by a technical briefing on the Bill. Discussions will also examine the implications of pesticide regulation for farmers, consumers and the environment, including access to safer pest-management options.
The meeting will draw on the expertise of various speakers including Dr. Daniel Maingi, an agroecology advocate and policy campaigner with the Inter-Sectoral Forum on Agrobiodiversity and Agroecology (ISFAA). With an academic background in molecular biology and biochemistry and previous experience in the chemical industry, Maingi brings an insider perspective to chemical risk assessment and science-policy reform. Fredrick Otieno, a Programme Officer at the Centre for Environment Justice and Development (CEJAD), will also contribute expertise in chemicals risk management, pesticide risk reduction and environmental protection.
Other contributors include Jeff Kahuho, Programme Manager at PELUM Kenya, whose work focuses on agroecology, natural resource management and supporting smallholder farmers, and Christine Gatwiri, Project Coordinator of the Route to Food Initiative at the Heinrich Böll Foundation, who supports research and advocacy efforts promoting the right to food and agroecology. The agricultural perspectives will also feature Winfred Ndindi, an agronomist specialising in integrated pest management, organic farming and sustainable crop production, and Pramila Mwibanda, whose work intersects horticulture, food security and youth empowerment.
The engagement will conclude with a practical exercise in which participants identify potential public-interest stories, evidence gaps and relevant sources, as well as an editorial discussion on translating technical policy issues into accessible media coverage. Through the engagement, MESHA and HBS seek to strengthen evidence-based journalism on pesticide regulation and encourage continued media coverage of public health, environmental protection and sustainable food systems.
