By : Rhoda Bogeta
The Environment and Land Court sitting at Milimani has allowed victims affected by pesticide use and manufacture within the European Union to be added to a petition filed against agrochemical companies operating in Kenya.
The petition, filed by the African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action (ACCPA), seeks to compel the withdrawal of highly hazardous pesticides and chemicals that have been banned in their countries of origin due to their serious health and environmental impacts.
According to the petitioners, although some of these pesticides have been withdrawn by the government, thousands of Kenyans continue to suffer the effects of long-term exposure to the toxic substances.
Recent forensic tests conducted on soil and water samples revealed contamination with Paraquat, melanion, and glycoset, all of which are classified as harmful to both human health and the environment.
Advocate Kelvin Kubai, who is representing victims in the class action suit, said the matter is a wake-up call for the country to prioritize preventive rather than curative health measures.
“Kenya does not have the luxury of a strong healthcare system through which we can rely on curative care,” Kubai told the court. “We can only excel through preventive care by ensuring Kenyans are accorded food of acceptable quality, which can only be achieved from the soil to the table.”
The case will be mentioned on February 5, 2026, before Lady Justice G. Kemei at the Environment and Land Court, Milimani.
