Senate Probes Report On Harmful Pesticides In Nyandarua Potatoes

The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on Monday met with Nyandarua Governor Dr. Moses Kiarie Badilisha to discuss a recent report claiming harmful pesticide residues were found in potatoes grown in the county.

The report, published in the Elsevier Journal of Food Protection by Egerton University researchers, raised alarm over the use of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to negative health effects. However, Governor Badilisha questioned the credibility of the study, saying the researchers never consulted the county government before releasing their findings.

“This study could hurt our farmers,” Governor Badilisha said. “It was done without talking to local officials who manage and support agriculture in Nyandarua. That raises serious questions about its methods.”

He added that Nyandarua’s potato farms are located in high-altitude areas where insect pests are not a major problem. Instead, he said farmers mostly use fungicides to fight diseases like late blight. He also pointed out that chlorpyrifos was still allowed in Kenya at the time the study data was likely collected.

Committee Chair Senator Wafula Wakoli acknowledged the governor’s concerns but called for a balanced approach. “Food safety must always be a top priority,” he said. “If there are credible concerns, they must be addressed carefully—for the sake of both consumers and farmers.”

The Senate Committee recommended an independent investigation to confirm the study’s findings. They proposed involving key national agencies including the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB), the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS), and the Agricultural Advisory Committee of Kenya (AAK).

Governor Badilisha assured the Committee that the county is already taking steps to encourage safe and responsible pesticide use. He cited efforts such as registering agro-dealers, training farmers, and promoting organic farming alternatives.

“We are committed to safe farming,” he said. “But we also need support—not alarmist reports that can damage our farmers’ reputation in the market.”

Senators welcomed the county’s actions but urged transparency and further action to protect public health and maintain trust in Kenyan agricultural products.

“Farmer welfare and food safety are not mutually exclusive,” Senator Wakoli said. “We must protect both.”