Kagwe warns Pesticide cartels as Kenya leads Africa toward safer Agriculture

The Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mutahi Kagwe, has issued a stark warning about the growing influence of illegal pesticide cartels that are allegedly working to sabotage Kenya’s food safety reforms.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 CABI Africa Regional Consultation in Nairobi, Kagwe accused powerful commercial interests of using corruption and misinformation to block the government’s push for safer and sustainable farming practices.
“We are aware that banned pesticide cartels are fighting back—through bribery of legislative and regulatory bodies, infiltration of government institutions, and the sponsorship of media articles to undermine public health reforms,” Kagwe declared, drawing a hushed response from a packed hall of international delegates.
The conference, which runs until 13 June, brings together policymakers, scientists, and development partners from across the continent under the theme of transforming African agriculture into a safer, more resilient and environmentally responsible sector.
Kagwe’s dramatic revelation underscored the magnitude of the challenge facing Kenya and its African partners as they seek to phase out harmful agrochemicals and confront the risks of pesticide overuse and pest-driven crop losses.
He stressed that the battle against unsafe pesticides is not merely administrative, but a deeply moral and political one.
“This is not just a policy issue—it is a fight for the health of our people, the integrity of our food systems, and the future of our environment,” Kagwe asserted.
Kenya has taken a leading role in this continental push, anchoring its efforts in the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS). According to Kagwe, the country is prioritising climate-smart and inclusive agriculture, greater market access through sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance, and stronger enforcement of food safety regulations.
He hailed the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), which is celebrating 30 years of operations in Nairobi, for its critical role in supporting African agriculture.
“From battling fall armyworm and locusts to pioneering nature-based solutions like the National Prosopis Strategy, CABI has helped anchor agricultural resilience across the continent,” he noted.
CABI’s support in reducing dependency on chemical inputs and promoting integrated pest management has helped Kenyan and African farmers adapt to changing climatic and environmental conditions.
As delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, and beyond gather to map CABI’s future direction, Kagwe called for renewed political will across Africa to confront entrenched commercial interests that benefit from unsafe practices.
“Let us not leave this room with just another communiqué. Let this be a turning point—a moment where political courage meets scientific truth,” he challenged, urging attendees to develop a regional roadmap for harmonised pesticide regulation, farmer education, and innovation-led farming.
Kagwe’s remarks come amid broader efforts by Kenya to lead regional agricultural integration through frameworks like the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He called on African nations to unite behind a shared vision for sustainable agriculture that safeguards both public health and long-term food security.
The CS concluded with a pointed warning to those profiting from regulatory loopholes: “The era of toxic loopholes, corrupt protectionism, and silent poisoning of Africa’s food is over.”