The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Rice farmers in Kirinyaga County are raising alarm over increasing cases of illnesses they say are connected to prolonged exposure to farm chemicals.
Speaking during a sensitisation meeting organised by the African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action (ACCPA) in Mwea, farmers revealed that many households are grappling with respiratory complications, skin problems, digestive disorders, and even cancer.
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Elderly farmer Stella Wanjiru recounted years of pesticide use that left her with chest pains and body weakness, while Lucy Mburu narrated how her mother succumbed to cancer—an ordeal she said mirrors what many families in the rice-growing region face. Mburu criticised the careless handling of chemicals among farmers and called on the government to regulate and ensure only safe products reach the market.
Farmers blamed the situation partly on the invasive golden apple snail, which has forced many to use harmful chemicals, some reportedly smuggled in from neighbouring countries. They said much of their earnings now go into hospital bills, and they appealed for better disposal systems for empty containers that often end up polluting farms and rivers.
Samuel Kariuki urged urgent government action to prevent further loss of life, while Mwea Water Users Association chair Peter Chege encouraged farmers to protect themselves by using proper gear such as gumboots and overalls while spraying.
ACCPA Executive Director James Mwangi said most smallholder farmers neglect protective equipment, exposing themselves to severe health risks from chemicals, some of which are banned in other countries. He noted that only about 1,000 out of 15,000 Mwea farmers currently use PPE.
Mwangi welcomed the Ministry of Agriculture’s move to ban 77 pesticides and restrict 202 others, but cautioned that glyphosate—still widely used—remains dangerous and is linked to cancers, neurological problems, reproductive issues, and organ damage.
He added that ACCPA plans to distribute 3.8 million PPE kits to farmers across the country by 2028 to reduce exposure. Mwangi also urged the government to tighten controls at the Kenya-Tanzania border to curb the inflow of harmful chemicals, warning that unsafe farming practices ultimately threaten all consumers.
