Post: Pesticide Residues Under ‘Spotlight’ in Kiambu’s Food Safety

Kiambu: Kiambu County is stepping up efforts to ensure the vegetables consumed by its residents are both safe and nutritious. In partnership with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the county recently unveiled results from Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) tests conducted under the 'Vegetables for All' project.According to Kenya News Agency, the tests, analyzed at crop nut laboratories, examined samples from local farms, open-air markets, and 'Mama Mboga' stalls across the county. The findings were shared at a county feedback session that brought together officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Health Services, and Trade.Preliminary reports indicate that a majority of the vegetables tested met international food safety standards, but some samples showed pesticide residues close to or above recommended standards, raising concerns about farming and handling practices. "Our families deserve food that nourishes rather than harms them," Chief Officer of Crop Production, Irrigation and Marketi ng Mr. Benson Njoroge said. "This programme is not just about detecting risks but about working with farmers and traders to adopt safer practices that guarantee trust in what we eat," he added.The issue is not unique to Kiambu alone, national studies underscore the urgency: A Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) survey in 2020 revealed that 46 percent of vegetables in local markets contained pesticide residues, with 11 percent exceeding the legal safety threshold. Similarly, a joint FAO/WHO study conducted in Kenya found that 30-40 percent of vegetables sampled in Nairobi and Kiambu exceeded recommended limits. Kales, spinach, and tomatoes were flagged as the most affected crops.GAIN, which has been instrumental in shaping food safety agendas across Kenya, is also supporting the development of legislation in Mombasa, Machakos, and Kiambu counties. The goal is to strengthen county-level policies to ensure safer handling, storage, and sale of vegetables. "Science must guide food safety," said Ex ecutive Director of GAIN Lawrence Haddad, in a recent statement. "If we fail to act on evidence, then unsafe food will continue to undermine nutrition and health. Our work with counties like Kiambu is about embedding scientific rigor into everyday food systems," he added.