Tonnes of obsolete pesticide to be destroyed in Kenya

At least 160,000kg of obsolete pesticide will be destroyed across the country in a move launched yesterday. The Ministry of Agriculture said this will reduce risk to both the environment and humans.

"The collected and safeguarded stocks will be destroyed through approved incineration facilities," said Agriculture PS Romano Kiome when he launched the exercise in Nairobi yesterday.

The ministry estimates there are more than a hundred of tons of expired and obsolete pesticides, many of which pose known health risks, stockpiled in Kenya.

So far 30 metric tones (30,000 kilogrammes) have been collected and stored at the veterinary laboratories at Kabete.

Dr Kiome said many of the chemicals were unrecorded stocks that expired in government warehouses.

"If such stocks are not stored correctly, the original product packaging can deteriorate, leading to leakages and possible contamination of soil and water sources," he said.